WEBVTT
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The feed for this streaming event
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brought to you by adminmonitor.com.
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2020.
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Thank you, President Batjer, you may proceed.
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Thank you, operator.
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Good morning.
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We need to establish a quorum,
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so would the agenda clerk please call the roll?
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For Commission meeting 3462,
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Commissioner Shiroma?
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Present
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Commissioner Guzman Aceves?
Present.
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Commissioner Randolph?
Here.
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Commissioner Rechtschaffen?
Present.
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President Batjer?
Present.
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Thank you very much. We have established a quorum.
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Welcome, everyone,
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to the California Public Utilities Commission.
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I am calling this meeting of May 28th, 2020,
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Public Agenda Number 3462 to order.
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Governor Gavin Newsome issued a Stay-at-Home order
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to protect the health and well-being of all Californians
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and to establish consistency across the state,
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in order to slow the spread of COVID-19.
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As such, we are conducting today's business meeting
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online and by remote participation.
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This meeting is live-streamed on the CPUC's meetings.
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You can view the meeting at www.adminmonitor.com/ca/cpuc.
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Public engagement is absolutely critical to the PUC process.
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As the operator stated, please dial in to 1-800-857-1917
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and enter passcode 9-8-9-9-5-0-1,
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and press star-one, only.
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If you wish to make a public comment,
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you will be placed into a queue and the operator
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will take your name and organization.
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Due to the high call volumes, there may be a slight delay
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from the time you press star-one
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to the time the operator asks for your information.
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Please be patient and stay on the line.
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You will be called upon to speak when we get
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to the public comment period in today's agenda.
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Emails received by 10:00 AM this morning will be read
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by the Public Advisor Allison Brown,
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during the public comment period, if there is time.
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Email comments received after 10:00 AM will be distributed
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to the commissioners and senior management,
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as will those emails that we do not have time,
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or there are time limitations, they will also be distributed
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to the commissioners and senior management.
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More than two months have passed
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since the statewide Stay-at-Home order was issued.
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Governor Newsome moved to Stage 2 of the reopening roadmap,
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which outlined specific indicators for counties
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to gradually reopen certain businesses.
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The State has taken efforts to boost testing capacity,
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and many counties are now offering tests
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to individuals with and without symptoms of COVID-19.
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The Governor also launched California Connected,
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a comprehensive contact tracing program
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and public awareness campaign.
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This program is a public-private partnership
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for contact tracers to connect with individuals
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who test positive for COVID-19 and work with them
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and the people they have been in close contact with
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to ensure they have access to confidential testing,
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as well as medical care and other services
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to help prevent the spread of the virus.
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I am encouraged to report that 50 of the CPUC staff
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have volunteered and accepted to be contact tracers.
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Additional testing, coupled with
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gradual reopenings of certain businesses,
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and deployment of tracers, are a positive indication.
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However, there is not yet a vaccine.
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So we have to be smart and we have to continue
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to stay-at-home, except for essential needs and activities.
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Practice physical distancing.
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Wash hands with soap and water for a minimum of 20 seconds.
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Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth
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with unwashed hands.
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And wear a cloth covering or mask
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when six feet of distance cannot be maintained.
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Here at the CPUC, senior management is exploring
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necessary actions to take before employees
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can return to work, and steps needed
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to keep staff safe when in the office.
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Any action taken will be in compliance
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with the state protocol.
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I would also like to thank the CPU staff,
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who have been focused and patient throughout the transition
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to the current working environment,
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and who continue to humble me with their resilience
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and commitment to the CPUC's mission.
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The pandemic has put a severe financial strain
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on California's budget.
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Governor Newsome released the May Revise
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of the state budget, and the financial fallout is daunting.
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The State is facing a projected $54 billion deficit
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in the next fiscal year and revenues are expected
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to decrease for several years to come.
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All State agencies and departments have been asked
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to take immediate actions to reduce expenditures
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and identify operational savings.
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The State has weathered through an economic crisis before,
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and we will do it again.
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The spirit and determination and innovation of Californians
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has always helped us push through tough times,
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and we always come back.
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The Commission understands that this crisis
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and its impacts to businesses, rate payers, and staff,
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will likely continue to evolve.
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We will continue to communicate with the public
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and stakeholders and work to ensure the safe delivery
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of the services Californians rely on
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to conduct their daily lives.
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We will now turn to public comment.
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The commission provides one and a half minutes
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to each speaker, one and a half minutes.
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You will hear a bell sound when your time is up.
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To make telephonic public comments, you can dial in,
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and I will repeat the number again, 800-857-1917,
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and enter passcode 9-8-9-9-5-0-1,
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and press star-one only.
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Due to the high call volume, there may be a slight delay
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from the time you press star-one
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to the time the operator asks for your name.
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Please, as I asked before, be patient and stay on the line.
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Email comments received by 10:00 AM this morning
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will be read by Public Advisor Brown if time permits.
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CPUC rules do not allow for parties and proceedings
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to speak about open proceedings.
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The public can make comments, addressing items
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on the consent and regular agendas,
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and including items not on the agenda today.
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Please note that there will not be public comments
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on item 25 and any item on the closed session agenda.
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There are a lot of callers on the line
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who would like to speak today.
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And I want to be able to hear each and every person.
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As stated earlier, everyone who wishes
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to make a public comment will have one and a half minutes.
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I would like to urge everyone to please stay
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within the allotted time of one and a half minutes.
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You will hear a bell sound.
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You will hear a bell sound when your time is up.
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Please be mindful of the other people
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waiting in the queue to provide public comment.
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Your cooperation will help us ensure
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that everyone gets their turn to share
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their comments with the commissioners.
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With that guidance in mind, I welcome today's speakers.
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I will now turn to the operator
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to open the public comment line.
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Operator?
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Thank you. The public comment line is now open.
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Our first speaker is Katerina Gaines
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with Youth vs Apocalypse.
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You may go ahead.
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Hi, my name is Katerina and I am 15 years old,
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and I am with Youth vs Apocalypse.
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I'm here to urge you to reject PG&E's reorganization plan.
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This plan does not protect rate payers,
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fire survivors, people, and our climate.
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PG&E needs to be held responsible for the destructive
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and careless system they have used.
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They have literally destroyed people's lives.
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Last year alone they contributed
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to some of the worst wildfires California has ever seen.
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Because of their lack of accountability,
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people lost their lives.
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Kids couldn't go to school and ecosystems were destroyed.
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We cannot allow for this corporation
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to continue business as usual.
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We have seen on too many occasions that this does not work.
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We need fire survivors to be fully compensated,
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and we need to know that we will not be treated
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as if we are disposable.
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Wildfires are more destructive than ever before,
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due to climate change.
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Fire seasons are longer and the climate is warmer.
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PG&E is providing our energy source from fossil fuels.
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This cannot continue, because if it does,
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we will not have a livable future.
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No corporation should have the right
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to take away my future and the future
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of every other generation to come, as well as our planet.
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We cannot allow private corporations to dictate our future.
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We need a just and equitable transition
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to renewable energy as soon as possible.
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Your choices today will decide our future.
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Please don't let PG&E take away mine.
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Right now you have the power to reform a company
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that has gotten away with destroying people's lives,
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ecosystems, and our future.
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Everyone's futures will be impacted by the choices you make.
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Thank you for your time today.
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Thank you, Katerina.
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The next caller please, operator?
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Our next caller is Anabelle Lampson
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with Youth vs Apocalypse and the Sunrise Movement.
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You may go ahead.
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Good morning, everyone.
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My name is Annabelle, and I'm 18, and organized
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with Youth vs Apocalypse and my local Sunrise hub.
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I'm proud to be from the magical land
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of Sonoma County, California,
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and want to first acknowledge the Pomo people
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who have been caretakers of this place for millennia.
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I dedicate this comment to the land
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I'm so lucky to call home.
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I remember two years ago sitting on the couch with my mom,
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in the darkness of early morning,
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There was thick smoke in the air.
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I will never forget the overwhelming sadness
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of hearing my aunt's voice, who is just a town away,
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as she told us she and her family
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had just escaped her neighborhood
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where every home in sight around hers was up in flames.
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I do not believe anyone deserves this feeling.
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How much longer are we going to treat people
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like they don't matter.
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How much longer are the people going to have to endure
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the violence of destructive industries,
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dominant systems, and brutalities of culture
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perpetuated by an economy based on greed?
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I ask you, Members of the Public Utilities Commission,
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do you stand with us, the public, or private money?
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Please reject this PG&E deal.
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California's communities, and communities all around us,
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earth, our shared home, have sustainable energy solutions.
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I echo all the demands of the Reclaim Our Power Campaign.
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Reclaiming our power source is about
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reclaiming our freedom.
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My brothers and sisters, human and nonhuman,
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who are victimized by the fossil fuels industry's
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pervasive oppression are not forgotten.
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My ancestors are not forgotten.
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The ones to come are not forgotten.
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I don't want to fight for scraps in a dying world.
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I want 2020 to be the year that we,
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as a society, rewrite the story.
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This public utilities commission has the power
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to hold the governor accountable.
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Let's get big money out of politics.
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Give the people what we deserve.
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And for God's sake, help us rebuild the future.
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Thank you for your time.
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Thank you. Annabelle
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You went over a little bit,
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I just want to remind the other callers,
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I need us to adhere to the timeframe of 1.5 minutes.
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Operator?
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Our next speaker is Barbara Stebbins,
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with Local Clean Energy Alliance, your line is open.
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Can you hear me?
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Yes.
Yes.
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Okay, my name is Barbara Stebbins.
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I'm with Local Clean Energy Alliance.
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Once again, we come to you to ask you
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to reject PG&E's reorganization plan.
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Your job is to ensure safe delivery
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of energy to the people of California
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by properly regulating the investor-owned utilities.
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In the past, the commission has
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mostly performed that job to ensure
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that the IOUs had good credit rating for investment.
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The result of prioritizing it in that way
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has been that PG&E has become a corporation
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out of control in their pursuit of profit.
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Just to remind you of what we have
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had to put up with from PG&E in the past,
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there was, I think, groundwater contamination
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back in the sixties, their first bankruptcy in 2001,
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the death and destruction of a San Bruno neighborhood
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in 2010, the five felony counts that followed,
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deadly wildfires resulting from defective equipment
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in 2017 and 2018, and the resulting
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84 counts of felony manslaughter.
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Please do not force the people of California to continue
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to suffer from the bad behavior of this corporation.
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Whatever new catastrophe gets perpetrated
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on the people of California will be your responsibility
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if you okay their reorganization plan today.
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Given that history, it is also unbelievable
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that you would vote to give PG&E a central procurement role
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for resource adequacy to fix a problem that does not exist
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and tramples on local governments' rights.
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I urge you to reject item four on your consent calendar.
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I echo all of the demands of the Reclaim Our Power.
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Thank you.
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Our next caller is Chuck Roselle from EACE.
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You may go ahead.
00:15:05.970 --> 00:15:09.187
My name is Chuck Roselle, and I represent
00:15:09.187 --> 00:15:13.410
the thoughts of the Alliance for Community Energy.
00:15:13.410 --> 00:15:16.130
I'm calling in to express opposition
00:15:16.130 --> 00:15:19.820
to agenda item number four, the proposed decision
00:15:19.820 --> 00:15:24.820
and rulemaking 17-09-020 regarding resource adequacy.
00:15:25.130 --> 00:15:27.870
Any central processing authority should be balanced
00:15:27.870 --> 00:15:29.870
to include the needs of community choice
00:15:29.870 --> 00:15:32.410
as well as the investor-owned utilities.
00:15:32.410 --> 00:15:36.810
An example would be the language that was included
00:15:36.810 --> 00:15:40.940
in Assembly Bill 3014 from Assembly Member Muratsuchi,
00:15:40.940 --> 00:15:44.780
which created a transparent funding authority.
00:15:44.780 --> 00:15:47.480
It should also address the elimination
00:15:47.480 --> 00:15:50.060
of the PCIA on an ongoing basis.
00:15:50.060 --> 00:15:51.090
Thank you very much.
00:15:53.330 --> 00:15:54.280
Thank you, Chuck.
00:15:55.120 --> 00:15:56.230
Next caller, operator?
00:15:58.931 --> 00:16:00.620
Our next caller is Elise Gallant
00:16:00.620 --> 00:16:01.890
with the Sunrise Movement.
00:16:01.890 --> 00:16:02.790
Your line is open.
00:16:04.740 --> 00:16:06.520
Hi, my name is Elise Gallant.
00:16:06.520 --> 00:16:08.734
I'm calling in with the Sunrise Movement.
00:16:08.734 --> 00:16:12.652
And I'm calling also to oppose the PG&E bailout.
00:16:12.652 --> 00:16:15.810
And to say that rate payers must be protected
00:16:15.810 --> 00:16:19.290
and not forced to pay for the failures of PG&E.
00:16:19.290 --> 00:16:22.000
If rate payers are forced to pay for PG&E's bankruptcy debt,
00:16:22.000 --> 00:16:23.350
then rate payers should be given
00:16:23.350 --> 00:16:25.790
a share of ownership of the company
00:16:25.790 --> 00:16:28.330
to make decisions about its finances.
00:16:28.330 --> 00:16:29.163
Thank you.
00:16:30.770 --> 00:16:31.720
Thank you, Elise.
00:16:33.400 --> 00:16:34.233
Operator?
00:16:38.097 --> 00:16:39.710
President Batjer.
00:16:39.710 --> 00:16:44.710
The next caller is Gina Berrigan, Youth vs Apocalypse.
00:16:50.746 --> 00:16:52.380
Hi, good morning.
00:16:52.380 --> 00:16:55.119
My name is Gina Berrigan, I'm a high schooler,
00:16:55.119 --> 00:16:57.720
and I'm of the organization Youth vs Apocalypse.
00:16:57.720 --> 00:16:59.880
And today I want to urge you to take note
00:16:59.880 --> 00:17:01.770
that we need a different PG&E,
00:17:01.770 --> 00:17:04.220
because at this moment of a public health crisis,
00:17:05.560 --> 00:17:09.660
vulnerable households and communities need to be protected.
00:17:09.660 --> 00:17:11.050
Many people aren't working right now
00:17:11.050 --> 00:17:13.230
and we shouldn't have to worry about our energy providers
00:17:13.230 --> 00:17:16.550
giving us an energy source that could potentially harm us.
00:17:16.550 --> 00:17:19.130
Any plan should include debt free forgiveness
00:17:19.130 --> 00:17:20.530
for vulnerable households.
00:17:20.530 --> 00:17:23.490
We should act now to make a change or not accept this deal.
00:17:23.490 --> 00:17:26.070
Personally, for me, being from a low income community,
00:17:26.070 --> 00:17:27.260
I can see how it could potentially
00:17:27.260 --> 00:17:30.170
harm my community and the people I love.
00:17:30.170 --> 00:17:32.580
We need to see clean energy as a right for everyone,
00:17:32.580 --> 00:17:35.250
and not as a source of profit for shareholders,
00:17:35.250 --> 00:17:38.550
especially while we are all in the same shelter order.
00:17:38.550 --> 00:17:40.730
I should be able to have a reliable source of energy
00:17:40.730 --> 00:17:41.980
for school work and food.
00:17:43.285 --> 00:17:45.460
You all can help to better the system
00:17:45.460 --> 00:17:47.030
and let the people be able to have a say
00:17:47.030 --> 00:17:48.790
in what happens to our future.
00:17:48.790 --> 00:17:51.560
I'm scared for my future and what is to come, as a youth.
00:17:51.560 --> 00:17:52.900
It shouldn't be what I worry about.
00:17:52.900 --> 00:17:54.300
I shouldn't have to worry about shutoffs
00:17:54.300 --> 00:17:55.750
or more forest fires that have
00:17:55.750 --> 00:17:57.930
already affected so many innocent people.
00:17:57.930 --> 00:17:59.380
I shouldn't have to worry about the effects
00:17:59.380 --> 00:18:02.350
on my daily life or the environment around me.
00:18:02.350 --> 00:18:04.470
The bankruptcy of PG&E shouldn't be
00:18:04.470 --> 00:18:07.420
put on rate payers and vulnerable communities.
00:18:07.420 --> 00:18:09.350
You have the power to reject this deal
00:18:09.350 --> 00:18:12.505
and find a more equitable solution that keeps everyone,
00:18:12.505 --> 00:18:15.860
including vulnerable communities, protected.
00:18:15.860 --> 00:18:17.970
Right now, you, as the commission, has that power
00:18:17.970 --> 00:18:20.680
to change that and allow us safe access to clean energy.
00:18:20.680 --> 00:18:24.130
I echo the demands of the Reclaim Our Power Campaign.
00:18:24.130 --> 00:18:25.330
Thank you for your time.
00:18:26.500 --> 00:18:27.340
Thank you, Gina.
00:18:27.340 --> 00:18:28.800
Next caller please, operator?
00:18:31.239 --> 00:18:32.470
Our next caller is Jada Delgam
00:18:32.470 --> 00:18:34.760
with Local Clean Energy Alliance.
00:18:35.668 --> 00:18:36.501
Your line is open.
00:18:37.530 --> 00:18:39.470
Hi, my name is Jada Delgam.
00:18:39.470 --> 00:18:41.690
I'm with the Local Clean Energy Alliance.
00:18:41.690 --> 00:18:43.390
I urge the commission to reject
00:18:43.390 --> 00:18:45.990
the PG&E reorganization plan.
00:18:45.990 --> 00:18:47.920
This commission has the power to hold
00:18:47.920 --> 00:18:51.410
PG&E accountable for its bad decisions.
00:18:51.410 --> 00:18:54.330
However, this deal with PG&E doesn't provide justice
00:18:54.330 --> 00:18:57.860
to wildfire survivors or to rate payers.
00:18:57.860 --> 00:19:00.100
It needs major changes.
00:19:00.100 --> 00:19:03.230
First of all, you need to make sure to protect rate payers.
00:19:03.230 --> 00:19:06.280
We don't want to keep bearing the risk and costs
00:19:06.280 --> 00:19:09.840
and pay for the failures of PG&E again and again.
00:19:09.840 --> 00:19:12.980
Second, wildfire survivors need justice as well.
00:19:12.980 --> 00:19:15.790
They should be compensated immediately.
00:19:15.790 --> 00:19:17.680
And finally, I think Californians
00:19:17.680 --> 00:19:19.780
deserve a better energy system,
00:19:19.780 --> 00:19:22.400
a system based on decentralized and clean energy,
00:19:22.400 --> 00:19:26.270
a system that has representatives of diverse sectors,
00:19:26.270 --> 00:19:28.490
including disadvantaged communities
00:19:28.490 --> 00:19:31.900
and California workers on the table as board members.
00:19:31.900 --> 00:19:35.010
I support the Reclaim Our Power Campaign's demands.
00:19:35.010 --> 00:19:35.843
Thank you.
00:19:37.420 --> 00:19:38.253
Thank you.
00:19:39.335 --> 00:19:41.080
Operator, our next caller please.
00:19:42.480 --> 00:19:46.130
Our next caller is Nick Travaglini with DSA.
00:19:46.130 --> 00:19:47.030
Your line is open.
00:19:48.960 --> 00:19:50.170
Good morning, Commissioners.
00:19:50.170 --> 00:19:53.160
And thank you so much for taking these public comments.
00:19:53.160 --> 00:19:55.620
I'm here to ask the commission
00:19:55.620 --> 00:19:59.171
to reject the PG&E restructuring plan.
00:19:59.171 --> 00:20:04.171
I believe that this plan does not adequately address
00:20:04.360 --> 00:20:08.007
the ongoing concerns with PG&E and its safety,
00:20:08.007 --> 00:20:12.930
which caused so many wildfires and so much harm
00:20:12.930 --> 00:20:16.540
to so many people around the state of California.
00:20:16.540 --> 00:20:20.790
I also believe that it does not adequately address
00:20:20.790 --> 00:20:23.720
the for-profit nature of PG&E
00:20:23.720 --> 00:20:27.900
and how those cost-cutting measures
00:20:27.900 --> 00:20:29.680
that will necessarily need to take place
00:20:29.680 --> 00:20:33.470
to ensure that it provides profit for its shareholders
00:20:33.470 --> 00:20:35.730
will continue to undermine safety.
00:20:35.730 --> 00:20:38.620
So I ask that you reject this plan, please.
00:20:38.620 --> 00:20:42.160
I stand with the Reclaim Our Power Campaign.
00:20:42.160 --> 00:20:43.160
Thank you very much.
00:20:44.020 --> 00:20:45.640
Thank you very much.
00:20:45.640 --> 00:20:47.090
Operator, next caller please.
00:20:48.630 --> 00:20:51.920
Our next caller is Brian Parkman with DSA
00:20:51.920 --> 00:20:52.770
You may go ahead.
00:20:54.380 --> 00:20:56.460
Hello. My name is Brian Parkman.
00:20:56.460 --> 00:20:58.850
I am with Silicon Valley DSA.
00:20:58.850 --> 00:21:01.480
PG&E has proven time and time again
00:21:01.480 --> 00:21:04.660
from San Bruno to Paradise that our safety
00:21:04.660 --> 00:21:06.240
is the least of their concerns,
00:21:06.240 --> 00:21:08.980
and they will put profit over safety.
00:21:08.980 --> 00:21:13.020
Please reject any plan which keeps in place
00:21:13.020 --> 00:21:14.700
a for-profit utility.
00:21:14.700 --> 00:21:17.674
Until the profit motive is removed,
00:21:17.674 --> 00:21:21.760
the energy grid will remain unsafe for communities
00:21:21.760 --> 00:21:25.490
because of the underlying motivations remain the same.
00:21:25.490 --> 00:21:28.710
The only thing that PG&E deserves at this point
00:21:28.710 --> 00:21:30.610
is to be sent into the oblivion.
00:21:30.610 --> 00:21:31.443
Thank you.
00:21:33.620 --> 00:21:35.150
Thank you.
00:21:35.150 --> 00:21:37.170
The next caller please, operator?
00:21:39.412 --> 00:21:41.010
Our next caller is Michael Kaufman
00:21:41.010 --> 00:21:43.510
with Communities for a Better Environment.
00:21:43.510 --> 00:21:44.360
You may go ahead.
00:21:45.360 --> 00:21:46.490
Thank you.
00:21:46.490 --> 00:21:48.000
My name is Michael Kaufman.
00:21:48.000 --> 00:21:51.240
I'm a member of Communities For a Better Environment,
00:21:51.240 --> 00:21:53.300
and I do believe that PG&E
00:21:53.300 --> 00:21:56.020
has not created a better environment.
00:21:56.020 --> 00:21:59.510
PG&E through its actions on behalf
00:21:59.510 --> 00:22:02.300
of its private shareholders has created
00:22:02.300 --> 00:22:07.300
a disaster in California, has murdered people,
00:22:07.400 --> 00:22:11.960
that they've been found to be a felony.
00:22:11.960 --> 00:22:14.780
And now we're asking for rate payers
00:22:17.660 --> 00:22:21.570
funds to be increased, for rate payers to be sacked
00:22:21.570 --> 00:22:24.470
some more for this private utility.
00:22:24.470 --> 00:22:29.010
We need this private utility to be a public utility.
00:22:29.010 --> 00:22:34.010
We need PG&E to do right by the forests and the mountains
00:22:34.410 --> 00:22:36.230
where their lines go.
00:22:36.230 --> 00:22:41.230
We need PG&E to not increase the rates for rate payers.
00:22:42.260 --> 00:22:47.260
We need PG&E to be a proper neighbor for all of us,
00:22:48.980 --> 00:22:51.780
not as disaster for all of us.
00:22:51.780 --> 00:22:54.420
Please reject this plan. Thank you.
00:22:55.840 --> 00:22:57.280
Thank you, Michael.
00:22:57.280 --> 00:22:58.930
Operator, our next caller please.
00:23:00.680 --> 00:23:02.910
Our next caller is Lincoln Oliver-O'Neil
00:23:02.910 --> 00:23:05.250
with Sunrise Bay Area Movement.
00:23:05.250 --> 00:23:06.083
You may go ahead.
00:23:06.083 --> 00:23:08.220
Yeah, it is me, Lincoln, sorry, okay.
00:23:09.240 --> 00:23:10.390
Hello, can you hear me?
00:23:11.360 --> 00:23:12.830
Yes we can.
00:23:12.830 --> 00:23:13.663
Great.
00:23:14.830 --> 00:23:17.270
Well, I am here today. Thank you.
00:23:17.270 --> 00:23:19.120
I'm here with the Sunrise Movement.
00:23:19.120 --> 00:23:21.640
And I'm here to tell you that Californians
00:23:21.640 --> 00:23:23.470
need a transformational energy system
00:23:23.470 --> 00:23:27.260
based on clean decentralized energy models.
00:23:27.260 --> 00:23:29.590
The plan on the table is considered to be okay
00:23:29.590 --> 00:23:31.580
with regards to climate change, because PG&E
00:23:31.580 --> 00:23:34.712
will still be able to meet its renewable portfolio standard.
00:23:34.712 --> 00:23:37.660
However, despite RPS requirements
00:23:37.660 --> 00:23:39.530
being the state's main measuring stick
00:23:39.530 --> 00:23:42.560
for how the energy system is adapting to climate change,
00:23:42.560 --> 00:23:45.640
our most vulnerable communities are already experiencing
00:23:45.640 --> 00:23:47.570
the effect of our energy system's failure
00:23:47.570 --> 00:23:49.790
to adapt to climate change.
00:23:49.790 --> 00:23:53.226
These burdens are falling most heavily on low income,
00:23:53.226 --> 00:23:57.590
Black and Brown, immigrants, and disabled Californians.
00:23:57.590 --> 00:23:59.340
Contrary to what PG&E's negligence
00:23:59.340 --> 00:24:02.800
and the state's lack of effective oversight suggests,
00:24:02.800 --> 00:24:05.820
I am here to tell you that as we adapt to climate change,
00:24:05.820 --> 00:24:07.680
nobody is disposable.
00:24:08.603 --> 00:24:11.280
Renewable portfolio standards are measured
00:24:11.280 --> 00:24:13.070
by their mitigation potential.
00:24:13.070 --> 00:24:15.230
Their ability to limit the impact of climate change
00:24:15.230 --> 00:24:17.640
on Californians sometime in the future.
00:24:17.640 --> 00:24:20.440
But as our communities have felt through asthma and funerals
00:24:20.440 --> 00:24:23.770
and destroyed homes, climate change is here now,
00:24:23.770 --> 00:24:27.190
and we need our energy system to start adapting to it.
00:24:27.190 --> 00:24:29.420
How are you, the commission, leading the charge
00:24:29.420 --> 00:24:31.110
on this adaptation effort?
00:24:31.110 --> 00:24:33.700
By making PG&E hire their own chief risk
00:24:33.700 --> 00:24:35.700
and chief safety officers?
00:24:35.700 --> 00:24:37.060
By letting them appoint their own
00:24:37.060 --> 00:24:39.120
independent safety advisor?
00:24:39.120 --> 00:24:40.550
We need you to do better.
00:24:41.870 --> 00:24:44.060
We need an independent safety monitor
00:24:44.060 --> 00:24:45.950
appointed by the legislators,
00:24:45.950 --> 00:24:48.080
and thus accountable to the people.
00:24:49.440 --> 00:24:52.010
We echo the demands of the Reclaim Our Power Campaign.
00:24:52.010 --> 00:24:54.440
Thank you for allowing this public comment today.
00:24:54.440 --> 00:24:58.160
Any PG&E deal needs to put the needs of fire survivors
00:24:58.160 --> 00:25:00.230
and the public first, or it must be rejected.
00:25:00.230 --> 00:25:01.800
Thank you.
00:25:01.800 --> 00:25:03.240
Thank you, Lincoln.
00:25:03.240 --> 00:25:04.890
Operator, the next caller please.
00:25:07.270 --> 00:25:09.120
Our next caller is Caroline Chen
00:25:09.120 --> 00:25:12.560
with Asian Pacific Environmental Network.
00:25:12.560 --> 00:25:13.960
You may ask your a question.
00:25:14.849 --> 00:25:16.160
Hi, good morning.
00:25:16.160 --> 00:25:18.630
This is Caroline with the Asian Pacific
00:25:18.630 --> 00:25:21.660
Environmental Network, calling in once again to urge you
00:25:21.660 --> 00:25:26.580
to reject the PG&E plan, unless it undergoes major changes.
00:25:26.580 --> 00:25:28.290
Commissioners, you've heard for weeks now
00:25:28.290 --> 00:25:31.170
how the plan in front of you doesn't work for rate payers,
00:25:31.170 --> 00:25:33.920
fire survivors, communities, or the climate.
00:25:33.920 --> 00:25:36.430
And at this point we are months into a public health crisis
00:25:36.430 --> 00:25:38.590
and hurtling towards fire season,
00:25:38.590 --> 00:25:41.550
with health ordinance still in need of true safety
00:25:41.550 --> 00:25:44.240
from deadly fires, smoke, and shutoffs.
00:25:44.240 --> 00:25:47.260
The plan should recognize that energy is a human right
00:25:47.260 --> 00:25:50.140
and include debt forgiveness for vulnerable households.
00:25:50.140 --> 00:25:51.480
It should include requirements
00:25:51.480 --> 00:25:54.750
to immediately de-energize infrastructure upon failure.
00:25:54.750 --> 00:25:56.790
And for careful handling of shutoffs,
00:25:56.790 --> 00:25:58.830
with the most impacted communities
00:25:58.830 --> 00:26:02.340
meaningfully included in decision-making.
00:26:02.340 --> 00:26:04.790
This year is also on course to be the world's hottest
00:26:04.790 --> 00:26:06.490
since measurements began.
00:26:06.490 --> 00:26:09.218
We really need a clean decentralized energy system.
00:26:09.218 --> 00:26:11.730
The CPUC should provide a mechanism
00:26:11.730 --> 00:26:13.740
for a transition of ownership to a model
00:26:13.740 --> 00:26:16.099
accountable to rate payers and workers
00:26:16.099 --> 00:26:19.680
if PG&E fails to successfully emerge from bankruptcy.
00:26:19.680 --> 00:26:22.070
You have the power to keep Governor Newsome accountable.
00:26:22.070 --> 00:26:23.280
Please use it.
00:26:23.280 --> 00:26:25.730
We echo the demands of the Reclaim Our Power Campaign.
00:26:25.730 --> 00:26:27.490
Please reject this plan. Thank you.
00:26:29.364 --> 00:26:30.197
Thank you, Caroline.
00:26:30.197 --> 00:26:31.800
The next caller please, operator?
00:26:37.452 --> 00:26:39.830
Our next caller is Pete Buttigieg
00:26:39.830 --> 00:26:41.920
with Reclaim Our Power.
00:26:41.920 --> 00:26:42.770
You may go ahead.
00:26:44.090 --> 00:26:45.280
Hello, commissioners.
00:26:45.280 --> 00:26:48.240
This is Pete Buttigieg with Reclaim Our Power Campaign.
00:26:49.130 --> 00:26:51.670
As Caroline mentioned, you've heard for weeks now,
00:26:51.670 --> 00:26:55.230
the voices of fire survivors, people with disabilities,
00:26:55.230 --> 00:26:59.040
low income people, rate payers, financial experts,
00:26:59.040 --> 00:27:02.560
energy experts, environmentalists, youth,
00:27:02.560 --> 00:27:05.150
time and time again saying that the plan in front of you,
00:27:05.150 --> 00:27:09.240
the plan of reorganization, does not work for Californians.
00:27:09.240 --> 00:27:11.100
And I'll point to a couple of specific things
00:27:11.100 --> 00:27:12.970
that you can do in this meeting.
00:27:12.970 --> 00:27:16.570
You can propose an alternate decision in this meeting
00:27:16.570 --> 00:27:19.250
to shift the outcome and protect lives
00:27:19.250 --> 00:27:22.220
and the health and safety of Californians.
00:27:22.220 --> 00:27:26.540
You can stand up and create meaningful,
00:27:26.540 --> 00:27:30.790
pointed, inclusion of impacted communities
00:27:30.790 --> 00:27:33.860
at decision points, when how, and if,
00:27:33.860 --> 00:27:37.020
to do power shutoffs in the future.
00:27:37.020 --> 00:27:39.710
No more deadly shutoffs for 10 million people
00:27:39.710 --> 00:27:41.300
caught in the dark, unable to charge
00:27:41.300 --> 00:27:43.540
their wheelchairs or their breathing machines.
00:27:43.540 --> 00:27:48.540
You can include the securitization dollar amounts
00:27:49.040 --> 00:27:51.730
in with the plan going forward so that PG&E
00:27:51.730 --> 00:27:54.930
doesn't come hurtling out of so-called bankruptcy
00:27:54.930 --> 00:27:57.900
with $38 billion in debt, putting us back
00:27:57.900 --> 00:28:00.830
in this cycle in just a matter of months,
00:28:00.830 --> 00:28:04.340
while they're left, grasping at Wall Street straws,
00:28:04.340 --> 00:28:07.270
trying to figure out how to pay for our energy.
00:28:07.270 --> 00:28:11.500
You can move forward today to make the new entity,
00:28:11.500 --> 00:28:14.710
whatever the entity is, accountable to the legislature,
00:28:14.710 --> 00:28:18.350
not just to the CPUC, public hearings,
00:28:18.350 --> 00:28:22.820
integrated advisers, and integrated monitors
00:28:22.820 --> 00:28:24.720
inside the organization.
(buzzer chiming)
00:28:24.720 --> 00:28:26.520
Thank you for rejecting this plan
00:28:26.520 --> 00:28:29.660
unless you make those very needed adjustments.
00:28:31.390 --> 00:28:32.520
Thank you very much.
00:28:33.490 --> 00:28:35.140
Operator, the next caller please.
00:28:36.670 --> 00:28:39.370
Our next caller is Johan Menzo
00:28:39.370 --> 00:28:42.160
with Silicon Valley DSA.
00:28:42.160 --> 00:28:43.010
You may go ahead.
00:28:44.730 --> 00:28:46.350
Hello? Can you hear me?
00:28:46.350 --> 00:28:47.183
Yes.
00:28:48.040 --> 00:28:49.820
Hi, my name's Johan Menzo.
00:28:49.820 --> 00:28:51.600
I'm representing Silicon Valley
00:28:51.600 --> 00:28:53.460
Democratic Socialists of America.
00:28:53.460 --> 00:28:57.270
PG&E kills and we should not accept their plan.
00:28:57.270 --> 00:28:58.103
Thank you.
00:28:59.370 --> 00:29:00.970
Thank you, Johan.
00:29:00.970 --> 00:29:02.620
The next caller please, operator?
00:29:08.380 --> 00:29:09.213
President Batjer,
00:29:09.213 --> 00:29:12.210
the next speaker is Derek Ruud,
00:29:12.210 --> 00:29:14.810
East Bay Democratic Socialists of America.
00:29:17.160 --> 00:29:19.060
Hello? Can you hear me?
00:29:19.060 --> 00:29:20.230
Yes, we can, Derek.
00:29:20.230 --> 00:29:21.566
Okay.
00:29:21.566 --> 00:29:23.510
Yeah, my name is actually Eric, it's E-R-I-C.
00:29:23.510 --> 00:29:24.610
Okay.
00:29:24.610 --> 00:29:26.510
Yeah, and I'm with the East Bay
00:29:26.510 --> 00:29:28.895
Democratic Socialists of America.
00:29:28.895 --> 00:29:31.470
I also stand in support of the Reclaim Our Power
00:29:32.780 --> 00:29:33.930
Coalition Campaign.
00:29:35.190 --> 00:29:40.190
So, I have been personally impacted by PG&E's negligence.
00:29:44.030 --> 00:29:45.590
Excuse me.
00:29:45.590 --> 00:29:48.950
Yeah, the house I grew up in was burned down in 2017
00:29:48.950 --> 00:29:50.540
in the Nuns Fire, which was caused
00:29:50.540 --> 00:29:52.890
by a piece of PG&E equipment.
00:29:52.890 --> 00:29:54.750
My dad barely escaped the house.
00:29:54.750 --> 00:29:57.060
He didn't even have time to put on shoes.
00:29:57.060 --> 00:30:00.840
And my neighbor, Daniel Southard, did not make it out.
00:30:02.370 --> 00:30:06.980
And I think this is just one story among many.
00:30:06.980 --> 00:30:10.000
And I've heard so many awful stories
00:30:10.000 --> 00:30:12.270
about the damage and destruction
00:30:12.270 --> 00:30:14.920
that's been caused by this for-profit corporation.
00:30:16.240 --> 00:30:19.250
And I think it's pretty clear at this point that PG&E
00:30:19.250 --> 00:30:22.410
is really built to serve the investors and not people.
00:30:22.410 --> 00:30:25.510
And it's been doing that for literally over a hundred years
00:30:26.750 --> 00:30:29.210
at great cost to our communities and our environment.
00:30:29.210 --> 00:30:32.532
And as long as it is a for-profit entity,
00:30:32.532 --> 00:30:34.690
we'll be stuck in this vicious cycle
00:30:34.690 --> 00:30:37.170
of fires, deaths, bankruptcy, bailouts,
00:30:37.170 --> 00:30:39.140
and then sort of these superficial
00:30:39.140 --> 00:30:42.340
reorganizations of their management.
00:30:42.340 --> 00:30:43.800
And this is always gonna be the case
00:30:43.800 --> 00:30:47.077
as long as they're a for-profit corporation.
00:30:47.077 --> 00:30:49.920
The reorganization plan really doesn't do anything
00:30:49.920 --> 00:30:51.630
to change that at any fundamental level
00:30:51.630 --> 00:30:53.180
that's gonna make a difference.
00:30:54.060 --> 00:30:56.700
So this is a really important moment.
00:30:56.700 --> 00:31:00.530
And I think it's a chance for each one of you
00:31:00.530 --> 00:31:02.860
on the California Public Utilities Commission,
00:31:02.860 --> 00:31:05.090
whose job it is to protect the public,
00:31:05.090 --> 00:31:07.114
to show whose side you're on,
00:31:07.114 --> 00:31:09.310
(buzzer chiming)
the people or the investors?
00:31:09.310 --> 00:31:13.250
And this moment is your one chance to do what's right,
00:31:13.250 --> 00:31:14.770
and actually change the course of history.
00:31:14.770 --> 00:31:17.950
And I hope you take it so that we can actually get on
00:31:17.950 --> 00:31:19.950
with repairing our environment and our communities
00:31:19.950 --> 00:31:22.200
with a green new deal so that everyone can have
00:31:22.200 --> 00:31:23.740
a good life in their local future.
00:31:23.740 --> 00:31:25.350
Thank you.
00:31:25.350 --> 00:31:27.010
Thank you, Eric.
00:31:27.010 --> 00:31:28.460
Operator, next caller please.
00:31:30.233 --> 00:31:31.570
Our next caller is Tre Vasquez
00:31:31.570 --> 00:31:33.520
with Movement Generation.
00:31:33.520 --> 00:31:34.370
You may go ahead.
00:31:35.550 --> 00:31:37.820
Good morning, buenos dias, Commissioners.
00:31:37.820 --> 00:31:39.000
My name is Tre Vasquez.
00:31:39.000 --> 00:31:40.960
I'm here today to share from my community
00:31:40.960 --> 00:31:42.380
here in Santa Rosa, California,
00:31:42.380 --> 00:31:44.690
on behalf of my organization Movement Generation,
00:31:44.690 --> 00:31:47.180
in support of Reclaim Our Power Campaign.
00:31:48.100 --> 00:31:50.600
I've lived here in Sonoma County through two wild fires.
00:31:50.600 --> 00:31:53.030
And in both fires, my community worked tirelessly,
00:31:53.030 --> 00:31:56.120
sacrificing sleep, meals, and the comfort of our own homes
00:31:56.120 --> 00:31:57.800
to take care of those who have been traumatized
00:31:57.800 --> 00:32:00.979
by these fires caused by the recklessness of PG&E.
00:32:00.979 --> 00:32:03.710
Our county and state simply didn't have the infrastructure
00:32:03.710 --> 00:32:05.140
to take care of our communities.
00:32:05.140 --> 00:32:07.610
The needs were so great and there wasn't enough preparation
00:32:07.610 --> 00:32:09.620
for what we now know was inevitable.
00:32:09.620 --> 00:32:11.440
We had to step in and take care of each other,
00:32:11.440 --> 00:32:13.570
much like now in the age of COVID.
00:32:13.570 --> 00:32:14.910
We can't overlook the fact that
00:32:14.910 --> 00:32:16.550
all of this could have been prevented,
00:32:16.550 --> 00:32:18.830
and PG&E needs to be held accountable.
00:32:18.830 --> 00:32:21.410
Too many have died. Too many have been displaced.
00:32:21.410 --> 00:32:23.720
Our rents have gone up over 36%
00:32:23.720 --> 00:32:24.960
in the aftermath of the fires,
00:32:24.960 --> 00:32:27.240
making this county unlivable for most.
00:32:27.240 --> 00:32:29.650
We can't afford rate increases.
00:32:29.650 --> 00:32:32.620
What I'm saying to you today is that in our county alone,
00:32:32.620 --> 00:32:34.400
there are those of us who will never have a chance
00:32:34.400 --> 00:32:36.130
to recover from these fires,
00:32:36.130 --> 00:32:38.470
and whose lives are considered an afterthought.
00:32:38.470 --> 00:32:40.870
To bail out PG&E says to us that our lives
00:32:40.870 --> 00:32:44.180
are worth sacrificing to conduct business as usual.
00:32:44.180 --> 00:32:46.330
We've heard the message loud and clear.
00:32:46.330 --> 00:32:48.580
We're looking at an upcoming fire season,
00:32:48.580 --> 00:32:51.040
more shutoffs in the midst of a global pandemic,
00:32:51.040 --> 00:32:52.730
and it's terrifying for our community
00:32:52.730 --> 00:32:55.660
who has been failed time and time again by our elected,
00:32:55.660 --> 00:32:57.870
and by PG&E's prioritization of money
00:32:57.870 --> 00:33:00.260
over human life and our ecosystem.
00:33:00.260 --> 00:33:02.090
We don't have time to wait on a supposed
00:33:02.090 --> 00:33:04.850
reorganization plan with our lives at stake.
00:33:04.850 --> 00:33:06.380
This is your opportunity to hold
00:33:06.380 --> 00:33:07.990
investor-owned utilities accountable
00:33:07.990 --> 00:33:11.144
for the consequences of their willful negligence.
00:33:11.144 --> 00:33:13.118
(buzzer chiming)
Like so many who have
00:33:13.118 --> 00:33:14.436
expressed in this call today,
00:33:14.436 --> 00:33:15.930
that a transformational energy system based on
00:33:15.930 --> 00:33:18.780
a clean, decentralized energy model that is possible.
00:33:18.780 --> 00:33:20.690
We're asking you to do the right thing today
00:33:20.690 --> 00:33:22.410
to make an ethical and humane choice
00:33:22.410 --> 00:33:23.790
before it's too late for us.
00:33:23.790 --> 00:33:24.623
Thank you.
00:33:26.100 --> 00:33:26.950
Thank you, Tre.
00:33:28.000 --> 00:33:29.450
Operator, next caller please.
00:33:31.280 --> 00:33:33.319
Our next caller is Charlotte Quinn
00:33:33.319 --> 00:33:36.230
with Democratic Socialists of America.
00:33:36.230 --> 00:33:37.080
You may go ahead.
00:33:38.740 --> 00:33:40.040
Hi, my name is Charlotte Quinn.
00:33:40.040 --> 00:33:42.090
I live in Mountain View, California.
00:33:42.090 --> 00:33:43.950
I'm concerned that despite carefully following,
00:33:43.950 --> 00:33:45.410
I'm sorry, Commissioners,
00:33:45.410 --> 00:33:47.820
it's clear that PG&E's reorganization plan
00:33:47.820 --> 00:33:50.030
will not work for rate payers, the fire survivors,
00:33:50.030 --> 00:33:51.640
communities, or the climate.
00:33:51.640 --> 00:33:53.380
It's in your power and it's certainly your duty
00:33:53.380 --> 00:33:55.180
to build an energy system that works
00:33:55.180 --> 00:33:57.340
for all communities and the climate.
00:33:57.340 --> 00:33:59.300
We need a public utility.
00:33:59.300 --> 00:34:01.620
The existing and proposed for-profit model
00:34:01.620 --> 00:34:03.650
is the cause of fires and explosions,
00:34:03.650 --> 00:34:06.670
death and destruction, and old unsafe infrastructure.
00:34:06.670 --> 00:34:09.910
The for-profit model is why we are wasting precious time
00:34:09.910 --> 00:34:12.280
transitioning to clean, renewable energy,
00:34:12.280 --> 00:34:15.330
so desperately needed to reduce climate catastrophes.
00:34:15.330 --> 00:34:16.840
Please reject any plan that keeps
00:34:16.840 --> 00:34:19.180
PG&E as a for-profit utility.
00:34:19.180 --> 00:34:21.120
Until the profit motive is removed,
00:34:21.120 --> 00:34:23.560
the energy grid will make unsafer communities
00:34:23.560 --> 00:34:27.960
just as it has been fatally proven over and over again.
00:34:27.960 --> 00:34:30.290
Reject the for-profit utility model
00:34:30.290 --> 00:34:33.800
and require that PG&E becomes a public utility.
00:34:33.800 --> 00:34:35.770
We desperately need a public utility
00:34:35.770 --> 00:34:38.390
that prioritizes clean, renewable energy
00:34:38.390 --> 00:34:42.710
that implements decentralized production of energy,
00:34:42.710 --> 00:34:45.510
and that has a strong, independent democratic oversight.
00:34:46.560 --> 00:34:48.570
Please make PG&E a public utility.
00:34:48.570 --> 00:34:51.820
Please do not allow it to remain a for-profit entity,
00:34:51.820 --> 00:34:54.550
which will only perpetrate destruction and failure.
00:34:54.550 --> 00:34:55.383
Thank you.
00:34:56.250 --> 00:34:57.860
Thank you, Charlotte.
00:34:57.860 --> 00:34:59.510
Operator, the next caller please.
00:35:01.090 --> 00:35:04.540
Our next caller is Sam Tunic with East Bay DSA.
00:35:04.540 --> 00:35:05.390
You may go ahead.
00:35:07.610 --> 00:35:09.250
Hi, thank you for meeting
00:35:09.250 --> 00:35:11.020
to discuss this important issue.
00:35:11.020 --> 00:35:12.520
Commissioners you've heard for weeks now,
00:35:12.520 --> 00:35:15.320
how the PG&E plan in front of you doesn't work
00:35:15.320 --> 00:35:17.510
for rate payers, fire survivors,
00:35:17.510 --> 00:35:19.080
communities, or the climate,
00:35:19.080 --> 00:35:20.650
and you have the power and responsibility
00:35:20.650 --> 00:35:23.400
to build an energy system that works for all of us
00:35:23.400 --> 00:35:24.950
and our communities have the answer
00:35:24.950 --> 00:35:26.770
of how to build that system.
00:35:26.770 --> 00:35:29.670
Please reject this PG&E plan because Californians
00:35:29.670 --> 00:35:31.990
need true safety from utility caused fires,
00:35:31.990 --> 00:35:33.550
smoke and shutoffs.
00:35:33.550 --> 00:35:35.810
And PG&E has proved time and time again
00:35:35.810 --> 00:35:40.010
that they value investors' profit above rate payers' safety
00:35:40.010 --> 00:35:42.380
and rat payers' financial solvency.
00:35:43.390 --> 00:35:45.910
The only way to truly protect the rate payers
00:35:45.910 --> 00:35:48.060
and provide justice for impacted communities
00:35:48.060 --> 00:35:50.510
is to restructure the utility
00:35:50.510 --> 00:35:53.340
such that we all have rigorous, independent,
00:35:53.340 --> 00:35:56.490
and democratic oversight of our utility.
00:35:56.490 --> 00:35:58.420
Any plan that you approve needs
00:35:58.420 --> 00:36:01.430
to immediately provide for an independent monitor
00:36:01.430 --> 00:36:03.610
with full access to PG&E operations
00:36:03.610 --> 00:36:06.420
to ensure compliance with all terms of the plan.
00:36:06.420 --> 00:36:08.810
And that monitor should be selected by
00:36:08.810 --> 00:36:10.330
and report to the legislature.
00:36:10.330 --> 00:36:13.980
We need democracy in our energy system.
00:36:13.980 --> 00:36:17.860
Californians need a transformational energy system
00:36:17.860 --> 00:36:21.620
based on a clean, decentralized energy model.
00:36:21.620 --> 00:36:24.080
And we know that PG&E has failed to operate safely
00:36:24.080 --> 00:36:27.180
to address public safety and climate change.
00:36:27.180 --> 00:36:29.590
And the CPUC plan should include a mechanism
00:36:29.590 --> 00:36:32.120
for a transition of ownership to a model
00:36:32.120 --> 00:36:34.525
that's accountable to rate payers and workers
00:36:34.525 --> 00:36:38.350
if PG&E fails to successfully emerge from bankruptcy,
00:36:38.350 --> 00:36:41.810
which I would argue that they can't do
00:36:41.810 --> 00:36:44.429
in a way that would keep us all safe.
00:36:44.429 --> 00:36:45.630
(buzzer chiming)
00:36:45.630 --> 00:36:47.900
And so, just lastly, I want to say that we echo,
00:36:47.900 --> 00:36:51.130
I echo the demands of the Reclaim Our Power Campaign
00:36:51.130 --> 00:36:54.390
and any PG&E deal needs to put the needs of fire survivors
00:36:54.390 --> 00:36:56.570
and the public first, or it must be rejected.
00:36:56.570 --> 00:36:57.403
Thank you.
00:36:58.280 --> 00:36:59.890
Thank you, Sam.
00:36:59.890 --> 00:37:01.340
Operator, next caller please.
00:37:02.870 --> 00:37:04.760
Our next caller is Alex Morrison
00:37:04.760 --> 00:37:07.010
with Sunrise Movement Bay Area.
00:37:07.010 --> 00:37:07.860
You may go ahead.
00:37:09.730 --> 00:37:11.564
Hello? Yeah.
00:37:11.564 --> 00:37:13.030
I volunteer with Sunrise Movement in the Bay Area.
00:37:13.030 --> 00:37:16.228
And during the day I'm a climate resilience planner.
00:37:16.228 --> 00:37:21.228
I just wanted to ask the commissioners to reject the plan
00:37:21.950 --> 00:37:24.180
that's being proposed by PG&E,
00:37:24.180 --> 00:37:26.920
unless it has a few things that I feel are essential
00:37:26.920 --> 00:37:30.510
to really having an effective plan
00:37:30.510 --> 00:37:32.400
going forward for this utility.
00:37:32.400 --> 00:37:35.602
So, first of all, not having a payback
00:37:35.602 --> 00:37:38.420
to fire survivors in PG&E stock.
00:37:38.420 --> 00:37:40.135
The payback needs to be in cash.
00:37:40.135 --> 00:37:43.550
Looking at what's happened with COVID to the stock markets,
00:37:43.550 --> 00:37:46.460
I think it's pretty easy to see how any system
00:37:46.460 --> 00:37:47.820
that's based on a payback in stocks
00:37:47.820 --> 00:37:51.670
can really short change the survivors of these events.
00:37:51.670 --> 00:37:54.110
The second thing, that customers need a rigorous
00:37:54.110 --> 00:37:58.260
and independent democratic oversight of their utility.
00:37:58.260 --> 00:38:00.480
PG&E has flouted their responsibility
00:38:00.480 --> 00:38:02.580
to maintain their lines safely,
00:38:02.580 --> 00:38:05.740
numerous times among numerous other ways
00:38:05.740 --> 00:38:08.430
that they have failed to be held accountable.
00:38:08.430 --> 00:38:12.610
And I think that there needs to be a full monitor instituted
00:38:12.610 --> 00:38:14.510
that reports to the legislature,
00:38:14.510 --> 00:38:18.000
in order to remedy some of this oversight
00:38:18.000 --> 00:38:20.810
that they haven't been getting.
00:38:20.810 --> 00:38:23.270
Lastly, I think that the plan should include
00:38:24.470 --> 00:38:27.830
provisions for California to meet
00:38:27.830 --> 00:38:31.900
the transformational change needed in the energy system
00:38:31.900 --> 00:38:34.250
towards one that's based on clean energy
00:38:34.250 --> 00:38:36.530
and a decentralized energy model.
00:38:36.530 --> 00:38:39.550
PG&E has often neglected its role in this transition
00:38:39.550 --> 00:38:42.450
and been outright oppositional
00:38:42.450 --> 00:38:45.310
to the transition to 100% clean energy.
00:38:45.310 --> 00:38:47.200
And so a plan should include a mechanism
00:38:47.200 --> 00:38:49.625
for transition of the ownership model
00:38:49.625 --> 00:38:50.458
(buzzer chiming)
to a model that's
00:38:50.458 --> 00:38:52.610
more accountable for rate payers and workers.
00:38:52.610 --> 00:38:55.210
One that is public, and specifically,
00:38:55.210 --> 00:38:58.620
CPUC's Disadvantaged Community Advisory Committee,
00:38:58.620 --> 00:39:00.380
should be able to lay the groundwork
00:39:00.380 --> 00:39:02.330
for what this utility should look like
00:39:02.330 --> 00:39:06.230
and what a new utility to replace PG&E would look like.
00:39:06.230 --> 00:39:08.900
Thank you for your time and your work.
00:39:08.900 --> 00:39:11.010
And I cede the rest of my time.
00:39:11.970 --> 00:39:13.320
Thank you, Alex
00:39:14.870 --> 00:39:16.320
Next caller please, operator?
00:39:19.411 --> 00:39:20.690
Our next caller is Crystal Wong
00:39:20.690 --> 00:39:23.500
for the People Power Solar Cooperative.
00:39:23.500 --> 00:39:24.350
You may go ahead.
00:39:25.410 --> 00:39:27.180
Thank you, and good morning, Commissioners.
00:39:27.180 --> 00:39:29.700
Thank you for patiently taking these public comments.
00:39:29.700 --> 00:39:31.010
People Power Solar Cooperative
00:39:31.010 --> 00:39:33.750
has member-owners all across California.
00:39:33.750 --> 00:39:36.431
We urgently need plans to ensure power security
00:39:36.431 --> 00:39:39.960
for the vulnerable communities who rely on power to live,
00:39:39.960 --> 00:39:42.110
especially in the middle of the pandemic.
00:39:42.110 --> 00:39:44.210
We need resource adequacy guidelines
00:39:44.210 --> 00:39:47.860
that support our ability to have control of our energy.
00:39:47.860 --> 00:39:50.970
Also, Californians need a transformational energy system
00:39:50.970 --> 00:39:53.550
based on a clean, decentralized energy model.
00:39:53.550 --> 00:39:56.810
With regards to the PG&E plan in front of you,
00:39:56.810 --> 00:39:58.410
you have the power and responsibility
00:39:58.410 --> 00:40:01.140
to build an energy system that works for all of us.
00:40:01.140 --> 00:40:02.990
And our communities have the answer
00:40:02.990 --> 00:40:04.750
to how to build that system.
00:40:04.750 --> 00:40:06.160
We strongly support the demands
00:40:06.160 --> 00:40:07.940
of the Reclaim Our Power Campaign,
00:40:07.940 --> 00:40:12.260
especially the need to have the plan to authorize
00:40:12.260 --> 00:40:15.130
the CPUC Disadvantaged Community Advisory Committee
00:40:15.130 --> 00:40:18.280
to lay the groundwork for the utility to replace PG&E.
00:40:19.416 --> 00:40:21.540
And any plan should restructure PG&E's board
00:40:21.540 --> 00:40:24.640
to shed Wall Street predators, and include the members
00:40:24.640 --> 00:40:26.430
representative of diverse sectors,
00:40:26.430 --> 00:40:28.220
including disadvantaged communities
00:40:28.220 --> 00:40:29.800
and California workers.
00:40:29.800 --> 00:40:32.520
Also in this moment of public health crisis,
00:40:32.520 --> 00:40:35.070
vulnerable households need to be protected.
00:40:35.070 --> 00:40:38.860
Any plan should recognize that energy is a human right
00:40:38.860 --> 00:40:40.350
under shelter-in-place order,
00:40:40.350 --> 00:40:41.960
where people need to use electricity
00:40:41.960 --> 00:40:45.580
for food, work, and school, especially amidst
00:40:45.580 --> 00:40:48.250
loss of rate payer income due to the pandemic.
00:40:48.250 --> 00:40:50.760
Any plan should include debt forgiveness
00:40:50.760 --> 00:40:52.270
for vulnerable household.
00:40:52.270 --> 00:40:55.050
So please reject the plan to restructure PG&E
00:40:55.050 --> 00:40:57.800
in front of you, unless it includes these priorities.
00:40:57.800 --> 00:41:00.070
and supports the people of California.
00:41:00.070 --> 00:41:01.070
Thank you very much.
00:41:01.910 --> 00:41:03.120
Thank you, Crystal.
00:41:03.120 --> 00:41:04.810
Operator, the next caller please.
00:41:06.450 --> 00:41:09.280
Our next caller is Carrie Ramirez,
00:41:09.280 --> 00:41:11.510
Youth vs Apocalypse.
00:41:11.510 --> 00:41:13.070
You may go ahead.
00:41:13.070 --> 00:41:14.880
Hello, can you hear me?
00:41:16.240 --> 00:41:18.200
Speak up a little bit.
00:41:18.200 --> 00:41:19.860
Hi, I'm sorry.
00:41:20.950 --> 00:41:21.783
That's better.
00:41:22.630 --> 00:41:23.463
Hello. Thank you.
00:41:23.463 --> 00:41:24.660
My name is Carrie Ramirez.
00:41:24.660 --> 00:41:26.450
And I am with Youth vs Apocalypse.
00:41:26.450 --> 00:41:28.360
I am 19 years old.
00:41:28.360 --> 00:41:32.370
Commissioners, I ask you, do you want to be good ancestors?
00:41:33.827 --> 00:41:37.570
This is a thing that was very common in this community,
00:41:37.570 --> 00:41:41.000
and we ask ourselves, how do we be good ancestors?
00:41:41.000 --> 00:41:44.380
How are we going to contribute to future generations?
00:41:44.380 --> 00:41:46.380
And how can we honor our ancestors past?
00:41:47.578 --> 00:41:49.740
And one way that you guys can be good ancestors
00:41:49.740 --> 00:41:53.988
is by rejecting this bailout.
00:41:53.988 --> 00:41:58.390
By not doing so, you are (speaking faintly)
00:41:58.390 --> 00:42:00.660
desecration of indigenous lands.
00:42:00.660 --> 00:42:04.970
Over 160,000 acres were burned and destroyed
00:42:04.970 --> 00:42:07.870
during the Pocket Fire, it was the deadliest wildfire
00:42:07.870 --> 00:42:10.040
in Californian history.
00:42:10.040 --> 00:42:12.660
And I ask you to keep that in mind as you
00:42:14.360 --> 00:42:17.340
basically, the survivors' lives
00:42:17.340 --> 00:42:19.980
and trauma of wildfire survivors,
00:42:19.980 --> 00:42:22.650
disabled communities who are relying on pump managers,
00:42:22.650 --> 00:42:26.680
communities of color, and (speaking faintly)
00:42:29.724 --> 00:42:31.381
That was not impacted.
00:42:31.381 --> 00:42:33.533
People were coming in asking to refill their buckets
00:42:33.533 --> 00:42:36.050
with warm and 200 degree water so that
00:42:36.050 --> 00:42:37.240
they could put it in their trucks
00:42:37.240 --> 00:42:39.870
so that they had hot water that night.
00:42:39.870 --> 00:42:42.950
And it is not my responsibility as a barista
00:42:42.950 --> 00:42:46.040
at a small coffee shop that was not impacted
00:42:46.040 --> 00:42:48.150
by route cutoffs by blocks,
00:42:48.150 --> 00:42:52.000
to be giving these people warm water for the night,
00:42:52.000 --> 00:42:55.340
it was not my responsibility as a barista
00:42:55.340 --> 00:42:59.550
to give people a shelter where they had warm food,
00:42:59.550 --> 00:43:00.630
a place where they had light,
00:43:00.630 --> 00:43:03.558
where students can do homework, and I ask you.
00:43:03.558 --> 00:43:05.800
(buzzer chiming)
00:43:05.800 --> 00:43:06.633
Thank you.
00:43:08.280 --> 00:43:09.280
Thank you, Carrie.
00:43:10.240 --> 00:43:11.890
Operator, our next caller please.
00:43:14.101 --> 00:43:17.020
Our next caller is Laura Rosenberger-Heiberger,
00:43:17.020 --> 00:43:18.370
Residents Against Fracking.
00:43:19.493 --> 00:43:20.890
You may go ahead.
00:43:20.890 --> 00:43:23.358
CPUC should be the first priority.
00:43:23.358 --> 00:43:25.860
Aging power lines should be replaced,
00:43:25.860 --> 00:43:29.100
infrastructure should be upgraded by.
00:43:30.161 --> 00:43:33.510
(speaking faintly) and shutoff.
00:43:33.510 --> 00:43:37.950
Now, our indigenous fire management practices
00:43:37.950 --> 00:43:39.570
should be implemented.
00:43:39.570 --> 00:43:41.850
Individuals with medical needs for electrics
00:43:41.850 --> 00:43:44.440
should be given off the grid, solar systems
00:43:44.440 --> 00:43:47.320
with battery storage, which is becoming cheaper.
00:43:49.370 --> 00:43:50.600
And oversight is needed.
00:43:50.600 --> 00:43:54.460
Without oversight, for-profit companies
00:43:54.460 --> 00:43:56.970
who continue California's fracking policy,
00:43:56.970 --> 00:43:59.960
with layoffs of CalGEM inspectors.
00:43:59.960 --> 00:44:01.810
And disadvantaged communities, too,
00:44:01.810 --> 00:44:04.520
and PG&E's board must include members
00:44:04.520 --> 00:44:06.580
of disadvantaged communities.
00:44:06.580 --> 00:44:07.413
Thanks.
00:44:10.420 --> 00:44:12.180
Thank you, Laura.
00:44:12.180 --> 00:44:14.550
Operator, next caller please.
00:44:16.416 --> 00:44:19.680
Our next caller is Margie Lewis with CBE.
00:44:20.650 --> 00:44:21.483
Your line is open.
00:44:21.483 --> 00:44:23.630
Hello? Can you hear me?
00:44:24.530 --> 00:44:26.039
Yes, we can.
00:44:26.039 --> 00:44:26.900
Okay.
00:44:26.900 --> 00:44:29.660
Thank you very much for taking these public comments.
00:44:31.270 --> 00:44:33.870
I'm calling to urge you to reject
00:44:33.870 --> 00:44:36.540
this PG&E restructuring plan.
00:44:36.540 --> 00:44:41.490
And I echo all the solutions of Reclaim Our Power Coalition.
00:44:43.270 --> 00:44:47.130
This PG&E plan is totally inadequate.
00:44:47.130 --> 00:44:49.950
It is dangerous, it's life threatening,
00:44:49.950 --> 00:44:52.650
and it ensures environmental degradation.
00:44:54.030 --> 00:44:58.930
All of this plan is just another echo
00:44:58.930 --> 00:45:03.680
of all the poor plans that PG&E has put forward
00:45:03.680 --> 00:45:08.680
over the years of their inadequate
00:45:13.700 --> 00:45:18.240
use of running their business.
00:45:19.130 --> 00:45:23.270
And so, I want to say that the definition of insanity
00:45:23.270 --> 00:45:25.460
is doing the same thing over and over
00:45:25.460 --> 00:45:27.120
and expecting a different result.
00:45:27.120 --> 00:45:31.700
And that's exactly what PG&E is doing, it is insane.
00:45:31.700 --> 00:45:36.390
You have the power to really change history,
00:45:38.201 --> 00:45:39.260
and leave a positive legacy for California.
00:45:40.990 --> 00:45:42.550
PG&E is incapable of putting any other plan out
00:45:44.292 --> 00:45:47.270
than what puts profits over people.
00:45:47.270 --> 00:45:50.120
We've that and history proves that out.
00:45:50.120 --> 00:45:52.330
So please, we urge you, to use the power.
00:45:53.462 --> 00:45:56.730
All the people here, have put forward
00:45:56.730 --> 00:45:59.770
really resourceful and workable solutions.
00:46:00.609 --> 00:46:03.220
So please use your power and protect us.
00:46:04.070 --> 00:46:06.909
Use your legacy towards the good end.
00:46:06.909 --> 00:46:10.031
Thank you for taking the comments.
00:46:10.031 --> 00:46:11.596
Thank you, Margie.
00:46:11.596 --> 00:46:15.327
Operator, the next caller please.
00:46:15.327 --> 00:46:17.244
Our next caller is Rebecca Foster,
00:46:17.244 --> 00:46:18.685
with Sunrise Movement.
00:46:18.685 --> 00:46:20.283
You may go ahead.
00:46:20.283 --> 00:46:22.134
Hi. My name is Rebecca.
00:46:22.134 --> 00:46:25.707
I'm with Sunrise and I'm also a middle school teacher.
00:46:25.707 --> 00:46:28.369
The last couple of years, I've seen the way
00:46:28.369 --> 00:46:31.179
that the wildfires have impacted my students
00:46:31.179 --> 00:46:33.304
and their families and their health.
00:46:33.304 --> 00:46:35.716
It has been devastating.
00:46:35.716 --> 00:46:37.117
And as a young person, myself,
00:46:37.117 --> 00:46:39.038
who hopes to have a livable future
00:46:39.038 --> 00:46:41.147
and hopes to have children of my own,
00:46:41.147 --> 00:46:43.836
I have hope that today you'll make the right choice
00:46:43.836 --> 00:46:47.400
and reject the PG&E plan in favor of something
00:46:47.400 --> 00:46:49.750
that actually puts communities first
00:46:49.750 --> 00:46:53.360
and is a public utility, as opposed to a private utility.
00:46:53.360 --> 00:46:54.193
Thank you.
00:46:55.630 --> 00:46:57.290
Thank you, Rebecca.
00:46:57.290 --> 00:46:58.940
Operator, the next caller please.
00:47:08.685 --> 00:47:09.810
President Batjer,
00:47:09.810 --> 00:47:11.630
the next caller is Emily Ward,
00:47:11.630 --> 00:47:14.480
California Democratic Executive Board (voice distorting).
00:47:18.555 --> 00:47:19.710
Hi, folks.
00:47:19.710 --> 00:47:21.810
Thank you for taking public comment.
00:47:22.880 --> 00:47:24.820
My name is Emily Ward.
00:47:24.820 --> 00:47:26.690
I'm an Executive Board Member
00:47:26.690 --> 00:47:28.680
with the California Democratic Party.
00:47:28.680 --> 00:47:30.940
And I wanted to speak today,
00:47:30.940 --> 00:47:33.980
as I live in Northern California,
00:47:33.980 --> 00:47:37.996
where a lot of my neighbors, especially in rural areas,
00:47:37.996 --> 00:47:41.380
have had their power repeatedly shutoff,
00:47:41.380 --> 00:47:43.080
sometimes for months.
00:47:44.450 --> 00:47:48.180
And for folks that are able, maybe that's okay.
00:47:48.180 --> 00:47:51.350
Maybe, you light a candle and it's fine.
00:47:51.350 --> 00:47:55.610
For folks who are disabled that is a death sentence,
00:47:55.610 --> 00:47:59.690
and we cannot continue to uphold profit over people's lives.
00:48:01.680 --> 00:48:05.525
And I am calling for you to reject
00:48:05.525 --> 00:48:08.960
this reorganization plan from PG&E,
00:48:08.960 --> 00:48:11.770
'cause no matter, it's organization,
00:48:11.770 --> 00:48:15.210
it is still going to uphold profit
00:48:15.210 --> 00:48:20.210
as the sole reason to continue.
00:48:20.250 --> 00:48:24.664
So, we really honestly need a public utility
00:48:24.664 --> 00:48:28.880
that prioritizes our future as young people,
00:48:28.880 --> 00:48:32.620
that prioritizes the lives of fire survivors,
00:48:32.620 --> 00:48:35.960
of disabled people, of people who need
00:48:35.960 --> 00:48:38.820
power to live during this crisis.
00:48:39.805 --> 00:48:43.790
And this will not change until that happens.
00:48:43.790 --> 00:48:46.560
So please, this is your chance.
00:48:46.560 --> 00:48:49.370
You have one. Do the right thing. Thank you.
00:48:50.540 --> 00:48:51.490
Thank you, Emily.
00:48:52.626 --> 00:48:53.830
Operator, the next caller please.
00:48:55.460 --> 00:48:57.640
Our next caller is Isaiah Burke
00:48:57.640 --> 00:48:59.960
with Democratic Socialists of America.
00:48:59.960 --> 00:49:00.810
You may go ahead.
00:49:02.300 --> 00:49:04.060
Hi, my name is Isaiah.
00:49:04.060 --> 00:49:06.300
I'm a student at UC Santa Cruz,
00:49:06.300 --> 00:49:09.423
and I organize with the DSA.
00:49:09.423 --> 00:49:14.380
Right now, we are living in an apocalypse,
00:49:14.380 --> 00:49:19.190
and it's not affecting everyone equally.
00:49:19.190 --> 00:49:24.170
And you have the chance, you are,
00:49:25.270 --> 00:49:28.460
we're standing on the precipice of disaster.
00:49:30.016 --> 00:49:32.672
And the reason that we're in this mess
00:49:32.672 --> 00:49:37.672
and the reason that there is so much death and destruction,
00:49:38.560 --> 00:49:42.270
caused by PG&E is because of its for-profit status.
00:49:42.270 --> 00:49:43.940
We need a public utility.
00:49:43.940 --> 00:49:46.290
I urge you to reject this deal.
00:49:46.290 --> 00:49:50.620
Please listen to the many, many young people
00:49:50.620 --> 00:49:55.110
and principled good Californians
00:49:55.110 --> 00:49:57.260
who are urging you to reject this deal.
00:49:58.840 --> 00:50:00.380
Thank you.
00:50:00.380 --> 00:50:01.860
Thank you, Isaiah.
00:50:01.860 --> 00:50:03.510
Operator, the next caller please.
00:50:05.954 --> 00:50:07.250
Our next caller is Magic Altman
00:50:07.250 --> 00:50:08.790
with Power for the People.
00:50:08.790 --> 00:50:09.690
Your line is open.
00:50:10.890 --> 00:50:12.640
Can you hear me?
00:50:12.640 --> 00:50:13.473
Yes, we can.
00:50:14.630 --> 00:50:18.002
Hello. You've heard from our young people.
00:50:18.002 --> 00:50:21.980
You've heard all the evidence you need to reject this plan.
00:50:23.140 --> 00:50:25.590
It's pretty emotional, and I think that's what I would
00:50:25.590 --> 00:50:28.920
ask you all to take a moment and put your hand on your heart
00:50:28.920 --> 00:50:33.370
and realize that the logical mind divorced from the heart
00:50:33.370 --> 00:50:36.716
is what can destroy us in this time.
00:50:36.716 --> 00:50:38.530
It is compassion that has risen
00:50:38.530 --> 00:50:41.470
to the top during this pandemic.
00:50:41.470 --> 00:50:43.460
It is said that the principle of capitalism
00:50:43.460 --> 00:50:46.290
and the principle of love are incompatible.
00:50:46.290 --> 00:50:47.790
To listen to our young people,
00:50:47.790 --> 00:50:50.550
appeal from their hearts to have a future,
00:50:50.550 --> 00:50:53.870
you didn't have to feel that when you were their age,
00:50:53.870 --> 00:50:57.990
I beg of you to not think that there is any rational wisdom
00:50:57.990 --> 00:51:00.550
that you can use to explain that
00:51:00.550 --> 00:51:04.030
you're not gonna give these young people a future.
00:51:04.030 --> 00:51:08.270
It is impossible to not hear this heartfelt emotion.
00:51:08.270 --> 00:51:11.090
You say at the beginning, that our input is critical.
00:51:11.090 --> 00:51:13.020
No one is supporting this plan.
00:51:13.020 --> 00:51:15.850
Behind each person are thousands of other people
00:51:15.850 --> 00:51:18.180
in organizations that are begging you
00:51:18.180 --> 00:51:21.532
to find your humanity again,
00:51:21.532 --> 00:51:24.570
and not be another regulatory board
00:51:24.570 --> 00:51:28.180
that approves of corporate profit over people.
00:51:28.180 --> 00:51:31.080
This is serious, we won't have life on this planet.
00:51:31.080 --> 00:51:32.690
Can you feel what I'm saying?
00:51:32.690 --> 00:51:36.250
Can you feel the young people appealing for a future,
00:51:36.250 --> 00:51:38.340
afraid that they won't even have a life?
00:51:38.340 --> 00:51:40.980
Have children, have grandchildren?
00:51:40.980 --> 00:51:44.180
Please, I beg of you, feel this in your heart,
00:51:44.180 --> 00:51:48.350
in your body, and use your mind to serve that heart.
00:51:48.350 --> 00:51:51.160
Otherwise we're all lost if we don't do this.
00:51:51.160 --> 00:51:55.170
All of us on this planet must have our minds serve our heart
00:51:55.170 --> 00:51:58.030
and not separately and logically figure out
00:51:58.030 --> 00:52:00.550
how to continue this horrible destruction.
00:52:04.637 --> 00:52:06.250
Thank you, Magic.
00:52:06.250 --> 00:52:08.300
Operator, the next caller please.
00:52:10.210 --> 00:52:12.350
Our next caller is Benjamin Holme,
00:52:12.350 --> 00:52:14.220
with Sunrise Movement.
00:52:14.220 --> 00:52:15.540
You may go ahead.
00:52:16.380 --> 00:52:17.213
Hi.
00:52:18.231 --> 00:52:19.880
I'm here calling in from a community garden
00:52:19.880 --> 00:52:22.110
on Atsugewi Ohlone land.
00:52:22.110 --> 00:52:24.600
And I just want to,
00:52:24.600 --> 00:52:26.999
I know the commission has been hearing from a lot of people.
00:52:26.999 --> 00:52:30.030
And everything that needs to be said has really been said.
00:52:33.115 --> 00:52:35.673
But I want to remind them that we, as a people
00:52:36.960 --> 00:52:40.050
are facing an unprecedented crisis right now.
00:52:40.050 --> 00:52:42.500
And it's only gonna get worse as our lives go on.
00:52:43.480 --> 00:52:45.980
And so we need to take a step, take a deep breath,
00:52:47.640 --> 00:52:50.190
and take bold action to address that crisis
00:52:50.190 --> 00:52:52.310
at the scale of that crisis.
00:52:52.310 --> 00:52:54.560
And right now that means rejecting this deal.
00:52:55.510 --> 00:52:59.030
And that means making PG&E a public utility,
00:52:59.030 --> 00:53:01.380
which means that it's no longer being hampered
00:53:01.380 --> 00:53:04.020
by a value system that puts profit over people,
00:53:04.020 --> 00:53:07.030
because as so many other people have so eloquently said,
00:53:07.030 --> 00:53:10.360
that is the root of this problem, and until that changes,
00:53:10.360 --> 00:53:14.060
we, the people of California, will not be served by PG&E.
00:53:14.060 --> 00:53:15.440
I urge you to reject this deal.
00:53:15.440 --> 00:53:17.460
I echo all the demands of Reclaim Our Power
00:53:17.460 --> 00:53:19.400
and all the people who couldn't be here today to speak.
00:53:19.400 --> 00:53:20.233
Thank you.
00:53:21.290 --> 00:53:22.610
Thank you, Benjamin.
00:53:22.610 --> 00:53:24.310
Operator, the next caller please.
00:53:27.690 --> 00:53:29.680
Our next caller is Zach Blumenstein
00:53:29.680 --> 00:53:31.950
with Democratic Socialists of America.
00:53:31.950 --> 00:53:32.850
Your line is open.
00:53:34.530 --> 00:53:35.420
Good morning, commissioners.
00:53:35.420 --> 00:53:37.842
Thanks for the opportunity to speak.
00:53:37.842 --> 00:53:38.993
I'm Zach Blumenstein.
00:53:38.993 --> 00:53:42.169
I'm with the East Bay Democratic Socialists of America.
00:53:42.169 --> 00:53:43.820
I want to,
00:53:45.980 --> 00:53:50.730
we've heard from so many people about how the profit motive
00:53:50.730 --> 00:53:55.380
has led to untold death and destruction by this company.
00:53:55.380 --> 00:53:59.520
How previous reorganizations and attempted oversight
00:53:59.520 --> 00:54:02.400
have been Band-Aids on a problem.
00:54:03.340 --> 00:54:06.700
And how this current plan is yet another Band-Aid.
00:54:07.760 --> 00:54:12.610
The drive for profit, which prevents genuine oversight
00:54:12.610 --> 00:54:17.610
and prevents using funds to actually make
00:54:17.780 --> 00:54:20.750
the needed improvements to power lines
00:54:20.750 --> 00:54:24.250
and infrastructure is killing people.
00:54:24.250 --> 00:54:28.200
It is continuing to drive climate change
00:54:28.200 --> 00:54:32.020
by causing wildfires that pump carbon into the atmosphere.
00:54:32.020 --> 00:54:36.900
And it is, with shutoffs and pollution,
00:54:36.900 --> 00:54:40.190
frontline communities are being harmed even further.
00:54:40.190 --> 00:54:43.990
So I urge you, commissioners, to reject this plan.
00:54:43.990 --> 00:54:47.060
And I amplify all the demands of Reclaim Our Power.
00:54:47.060 --> 00:54:49.240
Let's bring energy democracy.
00:54:49.240 --> 00:54:52.490
We don't really have a choice for combating climate change.
00:54:52.490 --> 00:54:53.980
Thank you.
00:54:53.980 --> 00:54:55.470
Thank you, Zach.
00:54:55.470 --> 00:54:57.120
Operator, the next caller please.
00:54:58.190 --> 00:55:01.880
Our next caller is Elizabeth Navarro,
00:55:01.880 --> 00:55:03.900
Youth vs Apocalypse.
00:55:03.900 --> 00:55:04.800
Your line is open.
00:55:06.913 --> 00:55:08.763
Hello? Can you hear me?
00:55:09.940 --> 00:55:13.380
Yes, we can. Speak up just a little bit, Elizabeth.
00:55:13.380 --> 00:55:15.400
Okay. Hi, everyone.
00:55:15.400 --> 00:55:18.540
My name is Elizabeth, and I'm 15 years old.
00:55:18.540 --> 00:55:21.840
I'm here with Youth vs Apocalypse.
00:55:21.840 --> 00:55:24.880
We need a different PG&E because this isn't really working
00:55:24.880 --> 00:55:27.790
for the community, and they have the responsibility
00:55:27.790 --> 00:55:31.090
to build an energy system that works for all of us.
00:55:31.090 --> 00:55:32.610
If you're going to bail them out,
00:55:32.610 --> 00:55:34.510
Californians need to be protected.
00:55:34.510 --> 00:55:37.670
That they're paying for PG&E is wrong.
00:55:37.670 --> 00:55:40.050
We can't allow PG&E to continue ignoring
00:55:40.050 --> 00:55:43.640
the communities' needs and treating us as disposable.
00:55:43.640 --> 00:55:46.990
We need true safety from wildfires, smoke, and shutoffs
00:55:46.990 --> 00:55:49.790
caused by energy utilities.
00:55:49.790 --> 00:55:52.840
Those most vulnerable and at-risk need to be protected
00:55:52.840 --> 00:55:55.610
and those impacted need to be compensated
00:55:55.610 --> 00:55:58.200
for the damages caused by this company.
00:55:58.200 --> 00:55:59.800
We also need an energy system
00:55:59.800 --> 00:56:01.970
that is clean and decentralized.
00:56:01.970 --> 00:56:05.750
They failed to address public safety, so I echo the demands
00:56:05.750 --> 00:56:08.080
of the Reclaim Our Power Campaign.
00:56:08.080 --> 00:56:10.930
This deal must put the needs of the community first.
00:56:10.930 --> 00:56:12.552
Thank you.
00:56:12.552 --> 00:56:14.880
Thank you, Elizabeth.
00:56:14.880 --> 00:56:16.550
Operator, the next caller please.
00:56:18.510 --> 00:56:20.270
Our next caller is Carolyn Norr,
00:56:20.270 --> 00:56:22.160
with Youth vs Apocalypse.
00:56:22.160 --> 00:56:23.010
You can go ahead.
00:56:24.560 --> 00:56:27.232
Hello? Can you hear me?
00:56:27.232 --> 00:56:28.740
Yes, we can.
00:56:28.740 --> 00:56:29.690
Okay, great.
00:56:29.690 --> 00:56:32.750
So I'm an adult supporter for Youth vs Apocalypse.
00:56:32.750 --> 00:56:36.090
I work with all the many young people who have spoken today,
00:56:36.090 --> 00:56:39.190
and many, many more who weren't able to join this call.
00:56:39.190 --> 00:56:42.520
I'm also the parent of two children in elementary school.
00:56:42.520 --> 00:56:44.140
and I'm calling to echo the demands
00:56:44.140 --> 00:56:46.200
of their Reclaim Our Power Collective,
00:56:46.200 --> 00:56:48.260
and everything that's already been spoken.
00:56:48.260 --> 00:56:52.060
And also to really urge you to take this moment of upheaval,
00:56:52.060 --> 00:56:56.650
to be really bold and to do something new and different.
00:56:56.650 --> 00:56:58.650
We are recognizing in this crisis,
00:56:58.650 --> 00:57:00.670
in the public health crisis and the climate crisis,
00:57:00.670 --> 00:57:01.870
that we're in right now,
00:57:02.928 --> 00:57:06.700
that the profit motive is not working.
00:57:06.700 --> 00:57:09.250
It's hurting those most vulnerable in our society,
00:57:09.250 --> 00:57:12.030
those treated with injustice at many levels,
00:57:12.030 --> 00:57:14.230
and that makes all of us unsafe.
00:57:14.230 --> 00:57:15.930
We need to build something that
00:57:15.930 --> 00:57:18.120
is actually designed to take care of people.
00:57:18.120 --> 00:57:20.320
That won't work if PG&E is accountable
00:57:20.320 --> 00:57:21.330
to their shareholders.
00:57:21.330 --> 00:57:26.330
We need to make our energy system accountable to the people
00:57:26.490 --> 00:57:31.490
and to those that are most vulnerable in our system.
00:57:32.300 --> 00:57:34.550
Energy is a human right, especially in this time,
00:57:34.550 --> 00:57:36.560
and we need to create a radically new system.
00:57:36.560 --> 00:57:38.340
So I urge you to take this moment
00:57:38.340 --> 00:57:39.900
to think about what's possible,
00:57:39.900 --> 00:57:41.780
what's actually needed for these young people,
00:57:41.780 --> 00:57:43.660
for my children, and to be bold.
00:57:43.660 --> 00:57:44.860
Thank you for listening.
00:57:45.750 --> 00:57:47.410
Thank you, Carolyn.
00:57:47.410 --> 00:57:49.210
Operator, the next caller please.
00:57:56.070 --> 00:58:00.860
Our next caller is Garima Raheja
00:58:00.860 --> 00:58:03.060
from the University of California, Berkeley.
00:58:05.600 --> 00:58:06.850
Hi, good morning commissioners.
00:58:06.850 --> 00:58:09.810
My name is Garima Raheja. I am 23 years old.
00:58:09.810 --> 00:58:12.210
I am an air pollution researcher with UC Berkeley
00:58:12.210 --> 00:58:14.420
and I organize with Sunrise Movement.
00:58:14.420 --> 00:58:17.020
I have to go to class and work during the wildfires
00:58:17.020 --> 00:58:19.380
time and time again, and PG&E's mistakes
00:58:19.380 --> 00:58:22.210
have caused harm to my own health many times.
00:58:22.210 --> 00:58:24.470
I'm calling to oppose the PG&E's restructuring plan.
00:58:24.470 --> 00:58:26.920
I believe that in this moment of public health crisis,
00:58:26.920 --> 00:58:30.180
with over 800,000 deaths caused by the coronavirus,
00:58:30.180 --> 00:58:33.350
millions of jobs lost, and income sources destroyed,
00:58:33.350 --> 00:58:35.210
I believe in this time that vulnerable households
00:58:35.210 --> 00:58:37.550
need to be protected, not pressured.
00:58:37.550 --> 00:58:40.020
Any plans should recognize that energy is a human right,
00:58:40.020 --> 00:58:41.700
under shelter-in-place orders, where people
00:58:41.700 --> 00:58:44.630
need to use electricity for food, work, and school,
00:58:44.630 --> 00:58:47.224
especially in response to rate payer income
00:58:47.224 --> 00:58:48.057
due to the pandemic.
00:58:48.057 --> 00:58:49.640
Any plan should include debt forgiveness
00:58:49.640 --> 00:58:51.200
for vulnerable households.
00:58:51.200 --> 00:58:53.700
I echo the demands of the Reclaim Our Power Movement.
00:58:53.700 --> 00:58:56.420
Any PG&E deal needs to put the needs of fire survivors
00:58:56.420 --> 00:58:58.990
and the public first, or it must be rejected.
00:58:58.990 --> 00:59:00.190
Thank you for your time.
00:59:02.080 --> 00:59:03.810
Thank you, Garima.
00:59:03.810 --> 00:59:05.460
Operator, the next caller please.
00:59:07.000 --> 00:59:09.110
Our next caller is Kieran Ward
00:59:09.110 --> 00:59:10.460
with the Sunset Movement.
00:59:10.460 --> 00:59:11.360
Your line is open.
00:59:12.620 --> 00:59:13.670
Hi, there.
00:59:14.850 --> 00:59:17.270
So, my name's Kieran Ward and I represent myself.
00:59:17.270 --> 00:59:20.220
I was born and raised in Santa Clara County
00:59:20.220 --> 00:59:22.900
and I strongly feel that the for-profit business model
00:59:22.900 --> 00:59:25.630
of a private PG&E would likely cause
00:59:25.630 --> 00:59:26.930
more harm to other people.
00:59:27.820 --> 00:59:29.500
Under a for-profit business model,
00:59:29.500 --> 00:59:32.230
profits are more important of a factor
00:59:32.230 --> 00:59:34.600
and consumer happiness is second fiddle,
00:59:34.600 --> 00:59:37.220
unless consumer happiness can raise profits,
00:59:37.220 --> 00:59:39.320
making PG&E unlikely to respond
00:59:39.320 --> 00:59:42.370
to most preventable disasters as fast as they could
00:59:42.370 --> 00:59:44.590
because due to a profit concern.
00:59:44.590 --> 00:59:46.270
Usually private companies are that way
00:59:46.270 --> 00:59:48.010
to breed innovation via competition,
00:59:48.010 --> 00:59:50.640
but PG&E doesn't really have any competition,
00:59:50.640 --> 00:59:51.780
for good reason, because of what
00:59:51.780 --> 00:59:53.790
an abundance of power lines would cause.
00:59:55.350 --> 00:59:58.850
But seemingly no, they don't really have a reason
00:59:58.850 --> 01:00:03.850
to stay as a private entity rather than a public utility.
01:00:03.990 --> 01:00:05.873
I would rather a regulated system,
01:00:05.873 --> 01:00:09.080
whose main concern is not profits,
01:00:09.080 --> 01:00:10.940
to be the regulator of such an important part
01:00:10.940 --> 01:00:12.840
of our everyday lives like energy.
01:00:14.100 --> 01:00:17.320
I also would urge you guys to consider
01:00:17.320 --> 01:00:19.210
everything that everyone else has said.
01:00:19.210 --> 01:00:22.450
And I have not heard a single person say yes,
01:00:22.450 --> 01:00:25.670
we should keep, we should bail out PG&E, yet.
01:00:25.670 --> 01:00:27.160
So, thank you.
01:00:28.460 --> 01:00:30.030
Thank you.
01:00:30.030 --> 01:00:31.480
Operator, next caller please.
01:00:33.750 --> 01:00:36.280
Our next caller is Natalie Tam,
01:00:36.280 --> 01:00:38.440
Youth vs Apocalypse.
01:00:38.440 --> 01:00:40.870
You may go ahead.
01:00:40.870 --> 01:00:43.260
Hello, my name is Natalie Tam.
01:00:43.260 --> 01:00:45.830
I am 16 years old from Youth vs Apocalypse.
01:00:45.830 --> 01:00:48.710
And I don't know about you, but I like to breathe,
01:00:48.710 --> 01:00:50.960
and I enjoy being alive.
01:00:50.960 --> 01:00:53.110
The fires caused by PG&E have made life
01:00:53.110 --> 01:00:55.420
very difficult for many people.
01:00:55.420 --> 01:00:57.840
And you guys have the power to make a difference
01:00:57.840 --> 01:00:59.820
and protect our homes.
01:00:59.820 --> 01:01:02.020
Please, please, don't let PG&E get away
01:01:02.020 --> 01:01:05.510
with what they have done to people and our beautiful earth.
01:01:05.510 --> 01:01:07.800
Imagine your kids or grandchildren
01:01:07.800 --> 01:01:10.758
not being able to breathe fresh air or simply enjoy nature.
01:01:10.758 --> 01:01:15.030
Think about your loved ones, your mom, dad, husband, wife,
01:01:15.030 --> 01:01:17.880
children, or maybe your younger brother who annoys you,
01:01:17.880 --> 01:01:19.130
when you make a decision.
01:01:20.510 --> 01:01:21.343
Thank you.
01:01:21.343 --> 01:01:22.710
And I hope you will do what is right,
01:01:22.710 --> 01:01:25.890
because future generations are relying on you.
01:01:28.020 --> 01:01:29.350
Thank you, Natalie.
01:01:29.350 --> 01:01:30.800
Next caller please, operator?
01:01:32.600 --> 01:01:34.420
Our next caller is Anne Hardy,
01:01:34.420 --> 01:01:36.330
Climate Action Now.
01:01:36.330 --> 01:01:37.180
You may go ahead.
01:01:38.450 --> 01:01:41.360
Hi, my name is Anne Hardy.
01:01:41.360 --> 01:01:42.380
I'm a family doctor.
01:01:42.380 --> 01:01:44.430
I'm a PG&E rate payer and a customer
01:01:44.430 --> 01:01:46.580
of East Bay Community Energy.
01:01:46.580 --> 01:01:49.130
And I'm a member of Climate Health Now,
01:01:49.130 --> 01:01:51.140
which is an organization of healthcare
01:01:51.140 --> 01:01:52.590
and public health professionals
01:01:52.590 --> 01:01:54.890
who recognize that global heating
01:01:54.890 --> 01:01:56.920
is the greatest public health emergency
01:01:56.920 --> 01:01:58.720
that humankind has ever faced.
01:01:59.620 --> 01:02:02.340
PG&E deserves no more chances.
01:02:02.340 --> 01:02:04.470
It has failed to protect public safety
01:02:04.470 --> 01:02:06.900
and to address climate change.
01:02:06.900 --> 01:02:09.430
The CPUC plan should include a swift,
01:02:09.430 --> 01:02:12.055
transparent, and equitable transition
01:02:12.055 --> 01:02:15.670
to an ownership model accountable to rate payers,
01:02:15.670 --> 01:02:18.640
workers, and the communities most impacted
01:02:18.640 --> 01:02:22.349
by utility related air and water pollution,
01:02:22.349 --> 01:02:25.089
deadly excessive heat days,
01:02:25.089 --> 01:02:29.566
and the history and or highest risk of wildfires,
01:02:29.566 --> 01:02:33.530
gas line explosions, and other catastrophes,
01:02:33.530 --> 01:02:35.961
As well as harm during power shutoffs,
01:02:35.961 --> 01:02:38.580
and also the young who are gonna have to live
01:02:38.580 --> 01:02:41.690
with the consequences for longer.
01:02:41.690 --> 01:02:45.630
I support all of the common sense and reasonable proposals
01:02:45.630 --> 01:02:47.430
of the Reclaim Our Power Campaign.
01:02:47.430 --> 01:02:48.630
And thank you very much.
01:02:50.320 --> 01:02:51.220
Thank you, Anne.
01:02:52.200 --> 01:02:53.650
Operator, next caller please.
01:02:56.019 --> 01:02:58.580
Our next caller is Darryl Gale.
01:02:58.580 --> 01:03:01.130
She is a Los Angeles resident (voice distorting).
01:03:01.130 --> 01:03:01.963
Go ahead.
01:03:03.090 --> 01:03:05.060
Hello, Commissioners.
01:03:05.060 --> 01:03:09.905
For myself and the people of California,
01:03:09.905 --> 01:03:13.759
we cannot tolerate another wildfire,
01:03:13.759 --> 01:03:18.120
city or rural area burn, massive death toll,
01:03:18.120 --> 01:03:21.080
or a sloppy shutoff program,
01:03:21.080 --> 01:03:23.840
killing people connected to medical devices.
01:03:24.930 --> 01:03:29.210
This is due to a corporate PG&E culture
01:03:29.210 --> 01:03:32.580
of pandering only to their stakeholders.
01:03:32.580 --> 01:03:34.490
Reject this plan.
01:03:34.490 --> 01:03:39.490
Instead we need monitoring and replacing aging power lines,
01:03:39.920 --> 01:03:42.710
active fire management practices
01:03:42.710 --> 01:03:45.670
and protection for medically vulnerable people.
01:03:46.650 --> 01:03:50.510
The CPUC plan must include accountability
01:03:50.510 --> 01:03:54.330
and oversight with independent monitoring.
01:03:54.330 --> 01:03:55.163
Thank you.
01:03:56.720 --> 01:03:57.553
Thank you.
01:03:58.420 --> 01:04:00.250
Operator, the next caller please.
01:04:01.698 --> 01:04:05.230
Our next caller is Justin Bogda,
01:04:05.230 --> 01:04:07.691
Communities for a Better Environment.
01:04:07.691 --> 01:04:08.524
You may go ahead.
01:04:10.320 --> 01:04:12.310
Hi, can you hear me?
01:04:12.310 --> 01:04:13.940
Yes we can.
01:04:13.940 --> 01:04:15.130
Hi, my name is Justin,
01:04:15.130 --> 01:04:17.770
and I'm with Communities for a Better Environment.
01:04:17.770 --> 01:04:20.380
We need a different PG&E because its model
01:04:20.380 --> 01:04:23.530
does not represent rate payers, fire survivors,
01:04:23.530 --> 01:04:26.680
and the most vulnerable communities in California.
01:04:26.680 --> 01:04:28.420
And rather than addressing those needs,
01:04:28.420 --> 01:04:30.900
the reorganization plan will just continue
01:04:30.900 --> 01:04:34.360
to disadvantage vulnerable communities in California
01:04:34.360 --> 01:04:36.620
in the same way it has in the past,
01:04:36.620 --> 01:04:39.030
rather than taking the opportunity that we have
01:04:39.030 --> 01:04:41.390
to make real transformational change
01:04:41.390 --> 01:04:42.790
that will work for everyone.
01:04:44.120 --> 01:04:46.250
I urge you, along with everyone else,
01:04:46.250 --> 01:04:48.500
to reject the reorganization plan,
01:04:48.500 --> 01:04:51.410
unless it includes key components
01:04:51.410 --> 01:04:54.410
that are essential for an energy transition
01:04:54.410 --> 01:04:57.900
and addressing dangers from fires.
01:04:57.900 --> 01:05:00.800
So first, Californians need true safety
01:05:00.800 --> 01:05:02.960
from utility caused fires.
01:05:02.960 --> 01:05:06.830
Any plan should institute strong wildfire
01:05:06.830 --> 01:05:09.100
safety metrics and robust requirements
01:05:09.100 --> 01:05:12.370
for utility wildfire mitigation plans.
01:05:12.370 --> 01:05:15.200
This should include replacing aged power lines,
01:05:15.200 --> 01:05:17.600
upgrades to immediately de-energize
01:05:18.617 --> 01:05:20.060
infrastructure upon failure,
01:05:20.060 --> 01:05:21.960
as well as implementing indigenous
01:05:21.960 --> 01:05:24.060
fire management practices.
01:05:24.060 --> 01:05:26.070
Any plan should institute extremely
01:05:26.070 --> 01:05:28.120
careful handling of power shuttles,
01:05:28.120 --> 01:05:31.710
with the most impacted communities meaningfully included
01:05:31.710 --> 01:05:34.270
in the decisions to shutoff or not.
01:05:35.182 --> 01:05:39.850
Additionally, in this moment of public health crisis,
01:05:39.850 --> 01:05:42.630
vulnerable households need to be protected.
01:05:42.630 --> 01:05:45.590
The plan should recognize that energy is a human right
01:05:45.590 --> 01:05:48.940
under shelter-in-place orders, where people need to use
01:05:48.940 --> 01:05:52.180
electricity for food, work, and school, and any plan
01:05:52.180 --> 01:05:54.990
should include debt forgiveness for vulnerable households.
01:05:54.990 --> 01:05:55.823
Thank you.
01:05:55.823 --> 01:05:57.030
I stand with Reclaim Our Power.
01:05:58.380 --> 01:06:00.131
Thank you, Justin.
01:06:00.131 --> 01:06:02.060
The next caller please, operator?
01:06:03.280 --> 01:06:05.610
Our next caller is Dulce Arias
01:06:05.610 --> 01:06:07.560
with Youth vs Apocalypse
01:06:07.560 --> 01:06:08.410
You may go ahead.
01:06:10.000 --> 01:06:11.180
Hi, my name is Dulce.
01:06:11.180 --> 01:06:13.040
I'm part of Youth vs Apocalypse.
01:06:13.040 --> 01:06:14.745
I live in Ohlone Territory.
01:06:14.745 --> 01:06:17.780
And I am here to oppose PG&E's bail out
01:06:17.780 --> 01:06:19.300
and echo the Reclaim Our Power
01:06:19.300 --> 01:06:22.230
Utility Justice Campaign sentiments.
01:06:22.230 --> 01:06:24.270
Rate payers, our communities,
01:06:24.270 --> 01:06:28.050
have already paid for PG&E's failure of public safety.
01:06:28.050 --> 01:06:29.700
We've paid the consequences.
01:06:29.700 --> 01:06:31.430
That was not enough.
01:06:31.430 --> 01:06:34.380
They made it our responsibility to provide mutual aid
01:06:34.380 --> 01:06:37.420
for communities affected by the wildfires.
01:06:37.420 --> 01:06:39.820
PG&E apparently couldn't take full charge
01:06:39.820 --> 01:06:43.040
of the responsibility and be held accountable.
01:06:43.040 --> 01:06:46.530
Our families lost so much due to the fires.
01:06:46.530 --> 01:06:48.760
Not everyone has the means and resources
01:06:48.760 --> 01:06:52.110
to get back on their feet and live life like they once did.
01:06:53.067 --> 01:06:55.980
And now, you want our families to bail out a company
01:06:55.980 --> 01:06:58.520
that did not bail out our community?
01:06:58.520 --> 01:07:01.430
Haven't PG&E done so much harm to us already?
01:07:01.430 --> 01:07:06.060
It's not just. That is unfair and a crime.
01:07:06.060 --> 01:07:06.930
A crime.
01:07:06.930 --> 01:07:08.630
Rate payers need to be protected
01:07:08.630 --> 01:07:11.740
and not forced to pay for failures of PG&E.
01:07:12.618 --> 01:07:14.800
Any class should be amended to ensure
01:07:14.800 --> 01:07:16.910
true rate payers neutrality.
01:07:18.070 --> 01:07:20.540
No additional charges should be added
01:07:20.540 --> 01:07:23.530
to rate payers' bills for repayment of bonds,
01:07:23.530 --> 01:07:25.600
as was done in PG&E's previous
01:07:25.600 --> 01:07:28.050
Chapter 11 bankruptcy settlement.
01:07:28.050 --> 01:07:30.570
PG&E is nothing without those individuals
01:07:30.570 --> 01:07:32.714
paying for PG&E's services.
01:07:32.714 --> 01:07:37.510
And if rate payers are forced to pay PG&E's bankruptcy debt,
01:07:37.510 --> 01:07:40.870
then rate payers should be given a share of ownership
01:07:40.870 --> 01:07:44.387
of the company to make decisions about its finances.
01:07:44.387 --> 01:07:46.160
Thank you for listening.
01:07:47.410 --> 01:07:48.930
Thank you, Dulce.
01:07:48.930 --> 01:07:50.380
Operator, next caller please.
01:07:52.950 --> 01:07:55.040
Our next caller is Leslie Sherman,
01:07:55.040 --> 01:07:56.740
Democratic Socialists of America.
01:07:56.740 --> 01:07:57.590
You may go ahead.
01:07:58.750 --> 01:08:00.880
Hi, thank you for allowing me to speak today.
01:08:00.880 --> 01:08:02.050
My name is Leslie Sherman.
01:08:02.050 --> 01:08:03.400
I live in Sunnyvale, California,
01:08:03.400 --> 01:08:06.010
and I'm a member of the Silicon Valley DSA.
01:08:06.010 --> 01:08:07.830
You said public input is integral
01:08:07.830 --> 01:08:09.360
to what you do here at the CPUC,
01:08:09.360 --> 01:08:10.910
so I'd like to give you the opportunity
01:08:10.910 --> 01:08:12.080
to prove you're listening.
01:08:12.080 --> 01:08:14.080
I know it's on a delay, but can I get a thumbs up
01:08:14.080 --> 01:08:16.590
from any commissioner who's listening on the webcast?
01:08:16.590 --> 01:08:18.250
Because I saw at least one of you start
01:08:18.250 --> 01:08:19.760
swiping on your pink phone.
01:08:19.760 --> 01:08:22.400
I'm sorry your bored, but people lives were lost.
01:08:22.400 --> 01:08:24.130
I am a therapist working primarily
01:08:24.130 --> 01:08:25.960
with low income students of color,
01:08:25.960 --> 01:08:27.420
and my clients and their communities
01:08:27.420 --> 01:08:30.370
are most likely to be affected by energy inequality
01:08:30.370 --> 01:08:32.590
and harmed by PG&E's choices.
01:08:32.590 --> 01:08:35.750
Please vote no on PG&E's restructuring plan.
01:08:35.750 --> 01:08:37.080
They have repeatedly shown us
01:08:37.080 --> 01:08:39.580
that they will always put profits over people.
01:08:39.580 --> 01:08:41.870
Profits are not worth more than human life.
01:08:41.870 --> 01:08:44.660
We cannot allow them to keep weaseling out of consequences.
01:08:44.660 --> 01:08:47.770
If you approve their plan, the blood of the next people
01:08:47.770 --> 01:08:49.720
who die because of PG&E's callous
01:08:49.720 --> 01:08:52.800
irresponsibility and neglect will be on your hands.
01:08:52.800 --> 01:08:54.590
Californians deserve safety.
01:08:54.590 --> 01:08:57.790
And we want independent democratic oversight of our utility.
01:08:57.790 --> 01:09:00.040
I support a public utility that will ensure
01:09:00.040 --> 01:09:02.410
energy access for all, and that profits
01:09:02.410 --> 01:09:05.380
will never be prioritized over people's lives again.
01:09:05.380 --> 01:09:06.730
Please do the right thing.
01:09:06.730 --> 01:09:07.930
Thank you for your time.
01:09:08.880 --> 01:09:09.880
Thank you, Leslie.
01:09:11.240 --> 01:09:12.890
Operator, the next caller please.
01:09:14.460 --> 01:09:16.250
Our next caller is Nicole Steiner,
01:09:16.250 --> 01:09:19.070
with SELS, the line is open.
01:09:21.210 --> 01:09:23.890
My name is Nicole Steiner and I represent myself.
01:09:23.890 --> 01:09:26.020
And as a resident of both Santa Clara
01:09:26.020 --> 01:09:28.570
and Santa Cruz counties, I'd like the commission
01:09:28.570 --> 01:09:31.200
to consider fire safety in our state.
01:09:31.200 --> 01:09:32.410
According to statistics
01:09:32.410 --> 01:09:34.934
from the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection,
01:09:34.934 --> 01:09:37.760
nine of the 10 largest wildfires
01:09:37.760 --> 01:09:42.420
in California's known history occurred in the last 20 years.
01:09:42.420 --> 01:09:44.210
Since the latter half of the year during
01:09:44.210 --> 01:09:47.799
which all nine of said fires happened, approaching,
01:09:47.799 --> 01:09:51.030
I believe the commission should seriously consider
01:09:51.030 --> 01:09:53.590
whether a for-profit energy model
01:09:53.590 --> 01:09:56.460
that Pacific Gas and Electric would naturally pursue
01:09:56.460 --> 01:09:59.220
as an uncontested private company,
01:09:59.220 --> 01:10:01.177
can be and has been able to be,
01:10:01.177 --> 01:10:04.110
trusted to truly act responsibly
01:10:04.110 --> 01:10:06.570
in the way of preventing fire damage
01:10:06.570 --> 01:10:10.170
caused by their privately owned infrastructure.
01:10:10.170 --> 01:10:11.220
Thank you for your time.
01:10:11.220 --> 01:10:12.280
California forever.
01:10:13.960 --> 01:10:14.960
Thank you, Nicole.
01:10:15.870 --> 01:10:18.350
Operator, the next caller please.
01:10:18.350 --> 01:10:20.880
Our next caller is Vivian Dai
01:10:20.880 --> 01:10:23.060
with Silicon Valley DSA.
01:10:23.060 --> 01:10:23.910
You may go ahead.
01:10:25.980 --> 01:10:27.870
Can everyone hear me?
01:10:27.870 --> 01:10:28.703
Yes we can.
01:10:29.636 --> 01:10:31.770
Great, well I hope you're having
01:10:31.770 --> 01:10:33.190
a great day, Commissioners.
01:10:33.190 --> 01:10:35.780
I, along with all my other comrades in Silicon Valley, USA,
01:10:35.780 --> 01:10:38.860
am calling to let you know that I do not support
01:10:38.860 --> 01:10:41.353
approving the PG&E plan to exit bankruptcy.
01:10:41.353 --> 01:10:43.830
PG&E has shown repeatedly in the past
01:10:43.830 --> 01:10:45.550
that it profits not with the rate payers
01:10:45.550 --> 01:10:48.070
of the state of California, but at our expense.
01:10:48.070 --> 01:10:49.360
And they will continue to do this
01:10:49.360 --> 01:10:51.660
under this plan to exit bankruptcy.
01:10:51.660 --> 01:10:54.310
Californians will only be able to benefit
01:10:54.310 --> 01:10:56.317
from the utility they democratically oversee.
01:10:56.317 --> 01:11:01.000
If this PG&E plan is approved, they will continue
01:11:01.000 --> 01:11:02.460
their current lack of transparency.
01:11:02.460 --> 01:11:05.080
And this will lead to more and more accidents
01:11:05.080 --> 01:11:08.466
like the Camp Fire, the Quail Fire, et cetera, et cetera,
01:11:08.466 --> 01:11:11.540
as we've seen in the last fire season that took
01:11:11.540 --> 01:11:14.270
so many lives and destroyed so many people's houses.
01:11:14.270 --> 01:11:16.770
So, I urge you to reject this plan
01:11:16.770 --> 01:11:19.340
so that California can democratically oversee
01:11:19.340 --> 01:11:22.300
a public utility instead of the current corporation
01:11:22.300 --> 01:11:24.640
that is PG&E that has cost so many lives already.
01:11:24.640 --> 01:11:25.840
Thank you for your time.
01:11:27.270 --> 01:11:28.570
Thank you very much.
01:11:28.570 --> 01:11:30.390
Operator, next caller please.
01:11:31.854 --> 01:11:35.550
Our next question is Simone Maganelli,
01:11:35.550 --> 01:11:37.830
with San Francisco Residents.
01:11:37.830 --> 01:11:40.120
You may proceed.
01:11:43.160 --> 01:11:44.890
Hi, my name is Simone Manganelli.
01:11:44.890 --> 01:11:47.529
I'm a resident of San Francisco.
01:11:47.529 --> 01:11:49.670
I have lived in the Bay Area my whole life.
01:11:50.670 --> 01:11:52.440
I'm pretty tired.
01:11:52.440 --> 01:11:55.780
I have been coming to the CPUC Commission meetings
01:11:55.780 --> 01:11:57.930
for months now on PG&E.
01:11:57.930 --> 01:12:02.250
And we've been asking you to reformulate PG&E
01:12:02.250 --> 01:12:04.560
into a public utility for months,
01:12:04.560 --> 01:12:07.590
and years before the current campaign.
01:12:07.590 --> 01:12:09.710
And we're tired of constantly asking
01:12:09.710 --> 01:12:13.290
and constantly asking and having the CPUC ignore
01:12:13.290 --> 01:12:15.090
the tens and hundreds of comments.
01:12:15.090 --> 01:12:18.316
You've heard all the comments on the call right now.
01:12:18.316 --> 01:12:21.630
As a previous commenter mentioned,
01:12:21.630 --> 01:12:23.660
not a single one of them has been in support
01:12:23.660 --> 01:12:25.640
of the reorganization plan of PG&E.
01:12:25.640 --> 01:12:28.710
And I am similarly calling on all commissioners
01:12:28.710 --> 01:12:30.994
to reject this reorganization plan.
01:12:30.994 --> 01:12:34.910
I remember when I was a kid, my dad used to call PG&E
01:12:34.910 --> 01:12:36.990
pigs, gluttons and extortionists,
01:12:36.990 --> 01:12:39.818
and PG&E hasn't changed in its entire history.
01:12:39.818 --> 01:12:42.370
It filed for bankruptcy in 2001.
01:12:44.414 --> 01:12:47.200
The San Bruno gas explosion happened 2010.
01:12:47.200 --> 01:12:50.720
The wildfires have been happening for the past years.
01:12:50.720 --> 01:12:53.529
Why do you expect that PG&E is going to change
01:12:53.529 --> 01:12:56.190
just based on a few little tweaks to it's business model?
01:12:56.190 --> 01:12:58.386
It needs to be fundamentally changed.
01:12:58.386 --> 01:13:00.569
It needs to be made into a public utility,
01:13:00.569 --> 01:13:03.130
accountable to the citizens of California.
01:13:03.130 --> 01:13:06.290
Profit cannot be a part of PG&E's model.
01:13:06.290 --> 01:13:08.070
It needs to be a public utility.
01:13:08.070 --> 01:13:10.160
And I'm calling on the commissioners
01:13:10.160 --> 01:13:12.690
to reject the reorganization of PG&E.
01:13:12.690 --> 01:13:13.523
Thanks.
01:13:14.640 --> 01:13:16.180
Thank you, Simone.
01:13:16.180 --> 01:13:17.630
Operator, next caller please.
01:13:20.130 --> 01:13:22.500
Our next caller is Noah Foley-Beining
01:13:22.500 --> 01:13:24.500
with Sunrise Movement, you may go ahead.
01:13:26.160 --> 01:13:28.330
Hi, yeah, my name is Noah.
01:13:30.180 --> 01:13:32.750
In the past several years, twice now,
01:13:32.750 --> 01:13:34.960
I've gone to sleep certain that my hometown
01:13:34.960 --> 01:13:36.800
is gonna be burned down.
01:13:36.800 --> 01:13:39.990
Going to sleep worried that my parents might be caught
01:13:39.990 --> 01:13:42.850
sleeping and not make it out like many others have.
01:13:42.850 --> 01:13:44.960
I've had friends lose their homes,
01:13:44.960 --> 01:13:48.970
one even having to run on foot to escape a fire.
01:13:52.110 --> 01:13:56.320
I think that we all, growing up, heard Smokey the Bear
01:13:56.320 --> 01:13:59.580
say that only you can prevent forest fires, right?
01:13:59.580 --> 01:14:01.470
Well, the way that we prevent forest fires
01:14:01.470 --> 01:14:03.410
is by taking power away from PG&E
01:14:03.410 --> 01:14:05.070
and giving it to the people.
01:14:05.070 --> 01:14:07.140
I insist that you demand,
01:14:07.140 --> 01:14:08.560
I insist that you implement the demands
01:14:08.560 --> 01:14:10.170
of Reclaim Our Power.
01:14:10.170 --> 01:14:12.030
Customers need rigorous, independent,
01:14:12.030 --> 01:14:14.350
democratic oversight of the utility.
01:14:14.350 --> 01:14:16.200
We needed a transformational energy system
01:14:16.200 --> 01:14:19.340
based on the clean, decentralized energy models.
01:14:19.340 --> 01:14:20.640
I hope that you're willing to listen
01:14:20.640 --> 01:14:22.260
to all the people calling today.
01:14:22.260 --> 01:14:23.093
Thanks.
01:14:24.550 --> 01:14:25.800
Thank you, Noah.
01:14:25.800 --> 01:14:27.450
Operator, the next caller please.
01:14:28.743 --> 01:14:31.000
Our next caller is John Douglas
01:14:31.000 --> 01:14:33.540
with DSA Santa Barbara chapter.
01:14:33.540 --> 01:14:34.390
You may go ahead.
01:14:35.260 --> 01:14:36.340
Thank you very much
01:14:36.340 --> 01:14:39.960
for the opportunity to address you.
01:14:39.960 --> 01:14:43.030
I've been amazed at how articulate
01:14:43.030 --> 01:14:45.910
and incisive the comments have been,
01:14:45.910 --> 01:14:48.210
particularly from the young people
01:14:48.210 --> 01:14:53.210
in Youth vs Apocalypse and Sunrise.
01:14:53.736 --> 01:14:57.590
Even though we're down in Edison territory
01:14:57.590 --> 01:15:02.150
here in Santa Barbara, we are still affected by PG&E
01:15:02.150 --> 01:15:04.780
because we are downwind from
01:15:04.780 --> 01:15:08.210
the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant,
01:15:08.210 --> 01:15:10.760
which only will take a little earthquake
01:15:10.760 --> 01:15:14.650
and flood us with radiation.
01:15:15.620 --> 01:15:18.380
However, I'm calling today to urge you
01:15:18.380 --> 01:15:22.220
to reject PG&E's bankruptcy plan.
01:15:22.220 --> 01:15:27.090
This is a recidivous, felonious corporation
01:15:27.090 --> 01:15:31.970
that does not deserve to be given yet another chance
01:15:31.970 --> 01:15:35.610
to mess up people's lives and to kill people.
01:15:35.610 --> 01:15:37.460
They've proven over and over again
01:15:37.460 --> 01:15:40.810
that they are irresponsible and always go
01:15:40.810 --> 01:15:45.030
for short term profit over the health and safety
01:15:45.030 --> 01:15:48.010
of rate payers in its territory.
01:15:48.010 --> 01:15:52.060
You must decide, as commissioners,
01:15:52.060 --> 01:15:53.450
decide whose side you're on,
01:15:53.450 --> 01:15:58.310
the people or wealthy investors on Wall Street?
01:15:58.310 --> 01:16:02.070
So I urge you to reject this bankruptcy plan
01:16:02.070 --> 01:16:05.450
and instead to recommend to the governor
01:16:05.450 --> 01:16:08.590
that all assets of PG&E be seized
01:16:09.567 --> 01:16:12.460
and it converted into a public utility
01:16:12.460 --> 01:16:14.900
subject to the oversight
(buzzer chiming)
01:16:14.900 --> 01:16:18.430
and the benefit of the rate payers
01:16:18.430 --> 01:16:20.300
and tax payers of California.
01:16:20.300 --> 01:16:21.300
Thank you very much.
01:16:22.420 --> 01:16:23.790
Thank you, John.
01:16:23.790 --> 01:16:25.760
Operator, our next caller please.
01:16:27.686 --> 01:16:30.560
Our next caller is Nishi Sheorey,
01:16:30.560 --> 01:16:33.560
with Reclaim Our Power and DSA San Francisco.
01:16:35.170 --> 01:16:36.020
You may go ahead.
01:16:37.020 --> 01:16:39.140
Hello, can you hear me?
01:16:39.140 --> 01:16:40.700
We can.
01:16:40.700 --> 01:16:41.580
Cool.
01:16:41.580 --> 01:16:44.440
Good morning, Commissioners, and thank you for your time.
01:16:44.440 --> 01:16:46.790
My name is Nishi Sheorey and I'm an organizer
01:16:46.790 --> 01:16:50.950
with the Reclaim Our Power Campaign, as well as our chapter
01:16:50.950 --> 01:16:53.180
of the Democratic Socialists of America.
01:16:53.180 --> 01:16:55.060
And so you have a major decision to make today
01:16:55.060 --> 01:16:58.220
that will impact the lives of millions of Californians.
01:16:58.220 --> 01:17:00.320
You have the power and the opportunity today
01:17:00.320 --> 01:17:02.680
to act in the interest of our communities.
01:17:02.680 --> 01:17:04.360
And I urge you to do so by rejecting
01:17:04.360 --> 01:17:07.100
PG&E's proposed plan of reorganization.
01:17:07.100 --> 01:17:08.880
We are in a time of increasing crisis,
01:17:08.880 --> 01:17:11.770
with a pandemic, the resulting economic fallout,
01:17:11.770 --> 01:17:14.030
and increasingly devastating fire seasons
01:17:14.030 --> 01:17:16.030
that herald the climate crisis.
01:17:16.030 --> 01:17:18.470
In these times it is more crucial than ever
01:17:18.470 --> 01:17:21.240
that Californians not be further burdened and endangered,
01:17:21.240 --> 01:17:22.960
but that is exactly what this plan will do
01:17:22.960 --> 01:17:25.040
without fundamentally changing anything,
01:17:25.040 --> 01:17:28.200
meaning we'll be right back here again in the near future.
01:17:28.200 --> 01:17:29.920
We need an energy system in California
01:17:29.920 --> 01:17:32.850
that is able to provide energy for rate payers in a way
01:17:32.850 --> 01:17:37.520
that prioritizes safety, justice, and ecosystem health,
01:17:37.520 --> 01:17:40.270
not profit and not shareholder returns.
01:17:40.270 --> 01:17:42.280
PG&E has repeatedly demonstrated
01:17:42.280 --> 01:17:44.150
that they do not act in good faith
01:17:44.150 --> 01:17:46.120
and cannot provide that system.
01:17:46.120 --> 01:17:47.820
They've repeatedly prioritized profit
01:17:47.820 --> 01:17:49.660
at the expense of all life,
01:17:49.660 --> 01:17:52.210
both in the short term and in the long term.
01:17:52.210 --> 01:17:53.730
They have proven they cannot be trusted
01:17:53.730 --> 01:17:55.850
with the control of our energy infrastructures.
01:17:55.850 --> 01:17:59.540
Instead, Californians must have that control for ourselves.
01:17:59.540 --> 01:18:01.380
We need a fundamentally different energy system.
01:18:01.380 --> 01:18:03.090
One that is accountable to rate payers,
01:18:03.090 --> 01:18:05.030
frontline communities, and workers.
01:18:05.030 --> 01:18:06.490
One that does not come out and defy
01:18:06.490 --> 01:18:09.790
the basic human need that is access to energy.
01:18:09.790 --> 01:18:12.310
One that is based on clean, renewable energy production
01:18:12.310 --> 01:18:15.400
that is decentralized, both in structure and in governance.
01:18:15.400 --> 01:18:17.270
One that keeps us safe.
01:18:17.270 --> 01:18:19.890
Transforming our energy system to one that truly acts
01:18:19.890 --> 01:18:23.280
in the interest of Californians is certainly a complex task.
01:18:23.280 --> 01:18:25.712
But the first step is clear. Reject this deal.
01:18:25.712 --> 01:18:26.780
(buzzer chiming)
01:18:26.780 --> 01:18:30.240
Thank you for your time, and I hope you reject this deal.
01:18:31.660 --> 01:18:32.610
Thank you, Nishi.
01:18:34.155 --> 01:18:35.220
Operator, next caller, speaker?
01:18:38.639 --> 01:18:39.472
Our next speaker is (audio distorting),
01:18:42.404 --> 01:18:43.882
with Democratic Socialists of America.
01:18:43.882 --> 01:18:45.790
Your line is open.
01:18:45.790 --> 01:18:47.420
Hello, good morning,
01:18:47.420 --> 01:18:50.770
fellow citizens and councilors.
01:18:50.770 --> 01:18:54.980
I'm calling to tell you to reject PG&E's restructuring plan.
01:18:54.980 --> 01:18:58.600
As long as PG&E is run for profit there'll be more fires,
01:18:58.600 --> 01:19:00.520
more discouraging news, and more deaths.
01:19:00.520 --> 01:19:03.160
This is the fact as embraceable as the tide.
01:19:04.620 --> 01:19:07.380
Proper maintenance means less profit for shareholders.
01:19:07.380 --> 01:19:10.110
Serving disadvantaged communities to the proper standards
01:19:10.110 --> 01:19:12.410
means less profit for shareholders.
01:19:13.530 --> 01:19:15.330
In the long term and the short term,
01:19:18.905 --> 01:19:20.600
prioritizing profit over people
01:19:20.600 --> 01:19:23.000
will lead to worse outcomes for our communities.
01:19:23.860 --> 01:19:26.400
This is not even mentioned, the looming climate catastrophe,
01:19:26.400 --> 01:19:28.420
which will make every fire more severe,
01:19:28.420 --> 01:19:29.710
every disaster compounded,
01:19:29.710 --> 01:19:31.830
every tragedy exponentially worse.
01:19:31.830 --> 01:19:33.050
We as Californians,
01:19:34.738 --> 01:19:37.290
have a once in a generation opportunity
01:19:37.290 --> 01:19:39.680
to provide energy in a democratic fashion,
01:19:39.680 --> 01:19:42.000
and a public utility that serves everyone.
01:19:42.000 --> 01:19:44.850
You can drastically improve the lives
01:19:44.850 --> 01:19:46.770
of hundreds of thousands of people
01:19:46.770 --> 01:19:48.650
if you simply have the will.
01:19:48.650 --> 01:19:50.670
Please reject this restructuring program
01:19:50.670 --> 01:19:52.390
and allow Californians be served
01:19:52.390 --> 01:19:55.960
with a democratic, clean energy utility.
01:19:55.960 --> 01:19:56.793
Thank you.
01:19:58.840 --> 01:19:59.673
Thank you.
01:20:00.750 --> 01:20:01.583
Operator?
01:20:03.431 --> 01:20:06.310
Our next caller is Alfred Tu,
01:20:06.310 --> 01:20:08.240
and he represents himself.
01:20:08.240 --> 01:20:09.090
You may go ahead.
01:20:10.660 --> 01:20:11.700
Hi, good morning.
01:20:11.700 --> 01:20:14.220
I'm calling in as a PG&E customer
01:20:14.220 --> 01:20:16.850
and resident of Alameda County.
01:20:16.850 --> 01:20:18.920
Please reject the restructuring.
01:20:18.920 --> 01:20:22.864
PG&E has no business being a private business.
01:20:22.864 --> 01:20:25.190
It will only continue the cycle of Wall Street
01:20:25.190 --> 01:20:27.500
profiting at the expensive of California.
01:20:28.500 --> 01:20:31.290
We need to make PG&E into a public utility.
01:20:31.290 --> 01:20:35.110
As a public utility, it would have lower borrowing costs
01:20:35.110 --> 01:20:38.390
and be better able to invest in fire safety
01:20:38.390 --> 01:20:41.430
without making electricity unaffordable.
01:20:41.430 --> 01:20:44.690
We should not let Wall Street lenders make excess profits
01:20:44.690 --> 01:20:47.510
from the rebuilding of our electrical system.
01:20:47.510 --> 01:20:49.390
Please make PG&E public. Thank you.
01:20:51.210 --> 01:20:52.912
Thank you, Alfred.
01:20:52.912 --> 01:20:54.562
Operator, our next caller please.
01:20:56.580 --> 01:20:59.100
Our next caller is Sarah Singer with DSA.
01:20:59.100 --> 01:20:59.950
You may go ahead.
01:21:01.990 --> 01:21:03.640
Hi, can you hear me?
01:21:05.100 --> 01:21:05.933
Yes we can.
01:21:06.840 --> 01:21:07.673
All right.
01:21:07.673 --> 01:21:12.160
My name is Sarah Singer and I am with the DSA.
01:21:12.160 --> 01:21:16.000
And I think that
01:21:17.120 --> 01:21:18.710
you don't need to use your heart
01:21:18.710 --> 01:21:21.430
to know logically that this is a situation
01:21:21.430 --> 01:21:24.530
that only benefits a few people at the top.
01:21:24.530 --> 01:21:29.530
That if PG&E was a person, they'd be in jail.
01:21:30.650 --> 01:21:34.614
The fact that they can pull in all the profits
01:21:34.614 --> 01:21:39.614
and turn over all of the costs to us isn't capitalism.
01:21:40.750 --> 01:21:44.190
It's a monopoly and forced by the government.
01:21:44.190 --> 01:21:46.590
Now we've trusted the government for a long time
01:21:46.590 --> 01:21:49.790
to run oversight on these folks.
01:21:49.790 --> 01:21:53.070
And we have dead people on our hands.
01:21:54.210 --> 01:21:57.170
You have dead people on your hands.
01:21:57.170 --> 01:22:00.220
And you have a chance now to be a hero
01:22:00.220 --> 01:22:04.440
and save all the people's livelihoods and their homes
01:22:04.440 --> 01:22:07.680
from going up in another blaze of smoke,
01:22:07.680 --> 01:22:11.620
from elderly people dying so that a few people
01:22:11.620 --> 01:22:12.910
at the top to make money.
01:22:12.910 --> 01:22:15.990
And why, because we don't want to bother
01:22:15.990 --> 01:22:18.630
with the infrastructure that it would require
01:22:18.630 --> 01:22:20.860
to turn this into a public utility?
01:22:23.250 --> 01:22:27.080
It just sounds like it would be laziness
01:22:27.080 --> 01:22:29.190
to not make the switch.
01:22:30.086 --> 01:22:35.086
I hope that we can trust you to do the right thing,
01:22:35.850 --> 01:22:39.560
the logical thing, the thing that benefits the most people.
01:22:40.600 --> 01:22:43.130
And if not, then we'll have to learn
01:22:43.130 --> 01:22:45.660
who else we gotta apply pressure to.
01:22:45.660 --> 01:22:47.070
Is it your bosses?
01:22:47.070 --> 01:22:50.220
Do we need to change the folks on this committee?
01:22:50.220 --> 01:22:54.260
What needs to happen so that more Californians don't die
01:22:54.260 --> 01:22:59.190
and then have to pay PG&E money for that privilege?
01:23:00.414 --> 01:23:03.140
I hope you're all heroes.
01:23:03.140 --> 01:23:05.610
I hope you save those folks
01:23:05.610 --> 01:23:07.700
and their homes and their animals.
01:23:08.540 --> 01:23:12.280
I don't think you need to feel this in your heart.
01:23:12.280 --> 01:23:15.080
I think you need to feel it logistically,
01:23:15.080 --> 01:23:19.740
and logistically, we'd rather not make it painful for you.
01:23:22.200 --> 01:23:23.033
Thank you.
01:23:23.980 --> 01:23:25.510
Thank you, Sarah.
01:23:25.510 --> 01:23:26.960
Operator, next caller please.
01:23:28.550 --> 01:23:30.610
Our next caller is Helena Beretski,
01:23:30.610 --> 01:23:32.010
with Sunrise Movement.
01:23:32.010 --> 01:23:33.640
You may go ahead.
01:23:33.640 --> 01:23:35.100
Hello, thank you, Commissioners.
01:23:35.100 --> 01:23:38.220
I echo everyone else's reasons for why you should oppose
01:23:38.220 --> 01:23:39.930
the PG&E plan in front of you.
01:23:41.780 --> 01:23:45.290
Also, the CPUC mission is, I quote,
01:23:45.290 --> 01:23:48.840
"We empower California through access to safe,
01:23:48.840 --> 01:23:52.510
"clean, affordable utility services and infrastructure."
01:23:52.510 --> 01:23:55.170
And your vision commits the CPUC to better
01:23:55.170 --> 01:23:58.650
the lives of all Californians, all Californians.
01:23:58.650 --> 01:24:00.350
Please use your leadership and courage
01:24:00.350 --> 01:24:02.620
to uphold your mission and vision.
01:24:02.620 --> 01:24:05.700
Reject the PG&E plan unless it is amended
01:24:05.700 --> 01:24:07.560
to clearly lead to the transformed,
01:24:07.560 --> 01:24:10.440
decentralized clean energy system we need
01:24:10.440 --> 01:24:14.340
to protect public health and people's lives and livelihoods.
01:24:14.340 --> 01:24:16.790
A better alternative does exist.
01:24:16.790 --> 01:24:18.560
To rely on some large power plants
01:24:18.560 --> 01:24:21.930
with long transmission lines, which increase wildfires,
01:24:21.930 --> 01:24:24.690
and the need to shutoff power to millions.
01:24:24.690 --> 01:24:26.990
Remember the Kincaid Fire last year started
01:24:26.990 --> 01:24:30.060
despite days long preventative power shutoffs.
01:24:30.060 --> 01:24:31.790
During those same shutoffs, though,
01:24:31.790 --> 01:24:34.490
the Blue Lake Rancheria Tribe in Humboldt
01:24:34.490 --> 01:24:38.253
kept the lights on with their solar and storage microgrid
01:24:38.253 --> 01:24:40.330
and helped thousands of their neighbors
01:24:40.330 --> 01:24:43.530
from the county meet essential needs too.
01:24:43.530 --> 01:24:45.490
Microgrids powered by renewable energy
01:24:45.490 --> 01:24:48.930
could keep basic power on throughout PG&E service area,
01:24:48.930 --> 01:24:51.680
but PG&E won't seriously invest in them because,
01:24:51.680 --> 01:24:55.290
as everybody else said, they're an investor-owned utility.
01:24:55.290 --> 01:24:57.940
It's cheaper for PG&E to shut the power off.
01:24:59.040 --> 01:25:00.980
They don't care about the cost to residents
01:25:00.980 --> 01:25:04.641
in spoiled food, lost wages, when their workplace closes,
01:25:04.641 --> 01:25:07.140
and potentially lives if they have
01:25:07.140 --> 01:25:09.190
electrically dependent medical equipment.
01:25:10.140 --> 01:25:13.108
The CPUC decision today can let PG&E off the hook
01:25:13.108 --> 01:25:15.660
(buzzer chiming)
or it can demand PG&E
01:25:15.660 --> 01:25:18.030
accountability to at-risk communities.
01:25:18.030 --> 01:25:19.840
You have lives in your hands.
01:25:20.810 --> 01:25:23.140
I echo the demands of Reclaim Our Power.
01:25:23.140 --> 01:25:26.760
Any PG&E deal needs to put the needs of fire survivors
01:25:26.760 --> 01:25:29.670
and the public first, or it must be rejected.
01:25:29.670 --> 01:25:31.670
Thank you so much for caring.
01:25:33.228 --> 01:25:34.061
Thank you.
01:25:34.990 --> 01:25:36.450
Next caller please, operator?
01:25:38.810 --> 01:25:41.220
Our next caller is Melissa Shuen-Mallory
01:25:41.220 --> 01:25:44.580
with Southern Alameda County Progressive Democrats.
01:25:44.580 --> 01:25:45.430
You may go ahead.
01:25:47.740 --> 01:25:49.860
First of all, can you hear me?
01:25:49.860 --> 01:25:50.693
Yes, we can.
01:25:51.690 --> 01:25:52.523
Okay.
01:25:52.523 --> 01:25:54.060
Thank you, Commissioners, for your time,
01:25:54.060 --> 01:25:55.710
and for listening to my comments.
01:25:55.710 --> 01:25:57.450
My name is Melissa Shuen-Mallory.
01:25:57.450 --> 01:25:58.283
I am the Chair
01:25:58.283 --> 01:26:01.170
of the Southern Alameda County Progressive Democrats
01:26:01.170 --> 01:26:04.970
I live in the Bay Area on Ohlone territorial land.
01:26:04.970 --> 01:26:07.680
And I urge you to reject this PG&E plan.
01:26:07.680 --> 01:26:11.050
PG&E has prioritized profits over rate payer safety
01:26:11.050 --> 01:26:15.320
for years, and they have ignored our failing grade.
01:26:15.320 --> 01:26:16.970
The current restructuring plan
01:26:16.970 --> 01:26:20.410
puts the burden on the rate payers to take up PG&E's estate.
01:26:20.410 --> 01:26:24.250
This plan is not honor the suffering of wildfire survivors,
01:26:24.250 --> 01:26:26.150
our communities, and rate payers.
01:26:26.150 --> 01:26:28.870
The current plan has nothing to help our environment
01:26:28.870 --> 01:26:32.280
and avoid the catastrophic effects of global warming.
01:26:32.280 --> 01:26:35.230
Please redact the PG&E plan in any form
01:26:35.230 --> 01:26:37.940
that does not include public ownership,
01:26:37.940 --> 01:26:42.310
clean and decentralized energy, and democratic oversight.
01:26:42.310 --> 01:26:44.360
The time is now to do the right thing
01:26:44.360 --> 01:26:46.210
and put people over profit.
01:26:46.210 --> 01:26:48.710
Repair our failing infrastructure.
01:26:48.710 --> 01:26:51.290
Please do the right thing and vote no today.
01:26:51.290 --> 01:26:52.890
Thank you.
01:26:52.890 --> 01:26:53.723
Thank you.
01:26:54.770 --> 01:26:56.220
Operator, next caller please.
01:26:57.771 --> 01:26:59.990
Our next caller is Vickia Brinkley
01:26:59.990 --> 01:27:03.140
with True Faith Community Baptist Church.
01:27:03.140 --> 01:27:03.990
You may go ahead.
01:27:05.260 --> 01:27:07.690
Thank you, Commissioners,
01:27:07.690 --> 01:27:09.410
for hearing from me today,
01:27:09.410 --> 01:27:13.310
I represent TURN at True Faith Community Baptist Church
01:27:13.310 --> 01:27:16.220
and the Antioch Brentwood Community.
01:27:16.220 --> 01:27:18.700
I'm speaking today to support the protections
01:27:18.700 --> 01:27:20.510
outlined in the proposed decisions.
01:27:20.510 --> 01:27:24.290
And we reject the PG&E reorganization plan.
01:27:24.290 --> 01:27:28.380
These protections outline, support the ability
01:27:28.380 --> 01:27:30.900
to support the most vulnerable people in our communities
01:27:30.900 --> 01:27:33.990
and their right to have life-giving energy and power,
01:27:33.990 --> 01:27:36.970
needed to have just basic human comfort and living.
01:27:36.970 --> 01:27:38.610
In a community where these temperatures
01:27:38.610 --> 01:27:41.230
exceed sometimes 100 degrees, like today,
01:27:41.230 --> 01:27:43.440
and dip in the thirties in the winter,
01:27:43.440 --> 01:27:47.030
climate control, access to power is a necessity.
01:27:47.030 --> 01:27:48.550
It's not a luxury.
01:27:48.550 --> 01:27:50.870
Our seniors and our children are not being considered
01:27:50.870 --> 01:27:53.500
in the greed associated with unreasonable rates
01:27:53.500 --> 01:27:57.220
and practices that prevent them from accessing power,
01:27:57.220 --> 01:28:00.020
and therefore their ability to participate in society
01:28:00.020 --> 01:28:03.150
in an informed manner through internet access.
01:28:03.150 --> 01:28:04.710
And it is critical that we protect
01:28:04.710 --> 01:28:07.960
the basic right to power, medical equipment,
01:28:07.960 --> 01:28:10.770
and maintain comfortable living temperatures.
01:28:10.770 --> 01:28:13.760
Our children are impacted when their education is halted
01:28:13.760 --> 01:28:15.900
through their inability to connect.
01:28:15.900 --> 01:28:20.309
Families are impacted by forced co-housing due to PG&E's
01:28:20.309 --> 01:28:22.430
shutoffs and unreasonable payment plan arrangements.
01:28:22.430 --> 01:28:25.610
There's not a church anywhere that can support
01:28:25.610 --> 01:28:27.670
financially and through benevolence,
01:28:27.670 --> 01:28:30.150
the communities need to meet these exorbitant rates.
01:28:30.150 --> 01:28:34.360
And we have to now then deconstruct the structure.
01:28:34.360 --> 01:28:36.170
So therefore we ask you to support,
01:28:36.170 --> 01:28:39.330
and we ask your support, to stand against PG&E
01:28:39.330 --> 01:28:42.770
and reject their plans, which continue
01:28:42.770 --> 01:28:46.030
to put profit above safety and community health.
01:28:46.030 --> 01:28:47.281
Thanks so much for listening.
01:28:47.281 --> 01:28:48.710
(buzzer chiming)
01:28:48.710 --> 01:28:50.450
Thank you, Vickia.
01:28:50.450 --> 01:28:52.100
The next caller please, operator?
01:28:53.420 --> 01:28:55.340
Our next caller is Kylan Patterson
01:28:55.340 --> 01:28:58.000
with 100 Black Men of the Bay Area.
01:28:58.000 --> 01:28:58.850
You may go ahead.
01:29:00.055 --> 01:29:01.480
Good morning, Commissioners.
01:29:01.480 --> 01:29:03.370
Thank you for taking my comment.
01:29:03.370 --> 01:29:05.280
I wanted to comment on the fact
01:29:05.280 --> 01:29:09.190
that I also reject the restructuring plan for PG&E.
01:29:09.190 --> 01:29:12.090
I'm speaking as a taxpayer, as a homeowner,
01:29:12.090 --> 01:29:14.710
as a father who wants to see a better world,
01:29:14.710 --> 01:29:17.790
a cleaner world for his children and his grandchildren.
01:29:17.790 --> 01:29:20.160
PG&E has had countless opportunities
01:29:20.160 --> 01:29:22.460
to invest in critical infrastructure
01:29:22.460 --> 01:29:25.960
to the benefit of the public at large, and yet chose
01:29:25.960 --> 01:29:28.880
to pay out their shareholders in the form of dividends,
01:29:28.880 --> 01:29:30.928
and pay their executives in the form of bonuses,
01:29:30.928 --> 01:29:34.280
while people died, and rate payers like myself,
01:29:34.280 --> 01:29:36.250
paid not only with treasure,
01:29:36.250 --> 01:29:39.440
but in the blood of people throughout the Bay Area.
01:29:39.440 --> 01:29:41.560
My recommendation for the commission
01:29:41.560 --> 01:29:44.480
is to reject this bankruptcy reauthorization
01:29:44.480 --> 01:29:48.450
and truly turn PG&E into a publicly owned utility,
01:29:48.450 --> 01:29:51.790
where we could invest in the infrastructure of the future,
01:29:51.790 --> 01:29:55.430
and furthermore, create an economy that will actually
01:29:55.430 --> 01:29:58.870
benefit the people of California for generations to come.
01:29:58.870 --> 01:30:01.430
Why should we cede creativity and green energy
01:30:01.430 --> 01:30:05.100
to the Germans, to the Swedes, to the Swiss?
01:30:05.100 --> 01:30:06.800
When here in the United States of America,
01:30:06.800 --> 01:30:09.800
here in California, we can have the energy infrastructure
01:30:09.800 --> 01:30:13.780
of the future that will create, tens of thousands of jobs
01:30:13.780 --> 01:30:16.200
and actually have a sustainable planet.
01:30:16.200 --> 01:30:19.130
And so again, I want the PUC to actually be
01:30:19.130 --> 01:30:20.950
the public utilities commission,
01:30:20.950 --> 01:30:23.470
and not the corporate utilities commission.
01:30:23.470 --> 01:30:26.482
No more bailouts for irresponsible behavior.
01:30:26.482 --> 01:30:30.670
No more cycle of insanity by having the same thing happen,
01:30:30.670 --> 01:30:32.340
expecting a different result.
01:30:32.340 --> 01:30:34.880
Let's make the different result with our actions.
01:30:34.880 --> 01:30:37.040
Let's make a different result for the future.
01:30:37.040 --> 01:30:38.520
And let's do this now.
01:30:38.520 --> 01:30:41.540
And you will be looked on in the history of California
01:30:41.540 --> 01:30:43.070
of doing the right thing.
01:30:43.070 --> 01:30:45.030
Thank you for your time.
01:30:45.030 --> 01:30:46.900
Thank you for your time, thank you.
01:30:46.900 --> 01:30:48.640
Operator, next caller please.
01:30:50.240 --> 01:30:52.010
Our next caller is Annie Koruga,
01:30:52.010 --> 01:30:54.620
with Democratic Socialists of America.
01:30:54.620 --> 01:30:56.090
You may go ahead.
01:30:56.090 --> 01:30:57.700
Yes, thank you, Commissioners.
01:30:57.700 --> 01:30:59.920
Okay, first please pay attention to the comments
01:30:59.920 --> 01:31:01.700
and stop looking so bored.
01:31:01.700 --> 01:31:04.480
Now, you've heard for months how the PG&E plan
01:31:04.480 --> 01:31:06.520
in front of you does not work for rate payers,
01:31:06.520 --> 01:31:09.260
fire survivors, our communities, or the climate.
01:31:09.260 --> 01:31:11.970
I urge you to vote no on this plan.
01:31:11.970 --> 01:31:13.850
You have the power and the responsibility
01:31:13.850 --> 01:31:16.560
to build an energy system that works for all of us.
01:31:16.560 --> 01:31:19.640
PG&E has proven time and time and time again,
01:31:19.640 --> 01:31:21.160
from San Bruno to Paradise,
01:31:21.160 --> 01:31:24.040
that our safety is the least of their concerns.
01:31:24.040 --> 01:31:26.820
And that they will put profits over our safety.
01:31:26.820 --> 01:31:29.400
PG&E is irresponsible.
01:31:29.400 --> 01:31:31.650
The last time it performed inspection on the lines
01:31:31.650 --> 01:31:36.590
that failed later, later burning down Paradise, was 2001.
01:31:36.590 --> 01:31:40.150
Reject any plan which keeps in place a for-profit utility.
01:31:40.150 --> 01:31:42.710
Until the profit motive is removed, the energy grid
01:31:42.710 --> 01:31:45.050
will remain unsafe for communities
01:31:45.050 --> 01:31:46.640
because the underlying motivations,
01:31:46.640 --> 01:31:49.860
which put profit over our lives, remain the same.
01:31:49.860 --> 01:31:51.800
We all know that allowing PG&E
01:31:51.800 --> 01:31:54.510
to continue to exist is a bad idea.
01:31:54.510 --> 01:31:58.440
Do you wonder why 100% of these comments are against PG&E?
01:31:58.440 --> 01:32:01.010
Furthermore, there are credible reports the process
01:32:01.010 --> 01:32:03.060
by which fire survivors vote on this plan
01:32:03.060 --> 01:32:06.140
has been an undemocratic sham, where people receive
01:32:06.140 --> 01:32:08.800
their voting materials late or not at all.
01:32:08.800 --> 01:32:11.480
PG&E is also an undemocratic sham.
01:32:11.480 --> 01:32:13.400
Do not allow them to continue to exist,
01:32:13.400 --> 01:32:16.430
to burn down our towns and blow up our city.
01:32:16.430 --> 01:32:19.690
If you do, there's blood on your hands, seriously.
01:32:19.690 --> 01:32:22.370
You either vote no, or you want people to die.
01:32:22.370 --> 01:32:25.360
Do you really want to protect murderers?
01:32:25.360 --> 01:32:26.193
Thank you.
01:32:27.530 --> 01:32:28.670
Thank you.
01:32:28.670 --> 01:32:30.320
Operator, the next caller please.
01:32:33.120 --> 01:32:35.350
Our next caller is Fabiola Lao,
01:32:35.350 --> 01:32:37.350
for Center for Sustainable Energy.
01:32:37.350 --> 01:32:38.200
You may go ahead.
01:32:42.149 --> 01:32:43.830
Hi, can you hear me?
01:32:45.990 --> 01:32:47.310
Yes, we can.
01:32:47.310 --> 01:32:48.143
Okay, great.
01:32:48.143 --> 01:32:50.199
Thank you, President and Commissioners,
01:32:50.199 --> 01:32:51.400
for the opportunity to speak.
01:32:51.400 --> 01:32:53.450
My name is Fabiola Lao, Senior Equity Policy Manager
01:32:53.450 --> 01:32:55.920
with the Center for Sustainable Energy.
01:32:55.920 --> 01:32:57.210
I'd like to express our support
01:32:57.210 --> 01:32:59.410
for the appointment of Roman Partida-Lopez
01:32:59.410 --> 01:33:02.030
to the Disadvantaged Communities Advisory Group.
01:33:02.030 --> 01:33:04.020
Roman is a well-respected equity
01:33:04.020 --> 01:33:06.550
and social justice contributor across the state,
01:33:06.550 --> 01:33:08.767
and in particular, the San Diego region.
01:33:08.767 --> 01:33:11.660
And I've seen firsthand his commitment to ensuring
01:33:11.660 --> 01:33:14.420
that the needs of disadvantaged and low income communities
01:33:14.420 --> 01:33:17.051
are front and center in policymaking.
01:33:17.051 --> 01:33:18.980
So from that he'll be an invaluable contributor
01:33:18.980 --> 01:33:21.030
to the DACAG, so thank you for your time.
01:33:22.470 --> 01:33:24.400
Thank you for your time.
01:33:24.400 --> 01:33:25.950
Anne, or excuse me, operator,
01:33:25.950 --> 01:33:27.700
I think we have a next caller then.
01:33:29.810 --> 01:33:32.390
Ben Schwartz with Clean Coalition.
01:33:32.390 --> 01:33:33.223
You may go ahead
01:33:41.340 --> 01:33:43.490
And again, Ben Schwartz, your line is open.
01:33:45.450 --> 01:33:46.283
Hello.
01:33:47.310 --> 01:33:50.445
Good morning, Commissioners and Chair.
01:33:50.445 --> 01:33:52.950
I just wanted to start by saying
01:33:52.950 --> 01:33:56.770
that the Clean Coalition supports Reclaim Our Power
01:33:56.770 --> 01:34:01.210
and believes that trying to get a more sectionalized grid
01:34:01.210 --> 01:34:04.464
and a distribution system operator
01:34:04.464 --> 01:34:07.510
is the future of the California grid.
01:34:07.510 --> 01:34:11.130
And that means collaborating between the utilities
01:34:11.130 --> 01:34:13.280
and stakeholders and the commission.
01:34:13.280 --> 01:34:15.510
In this case, I'm asking that the commission
01:34:16.632 --> 01:34:18.830
reject the PG&E reorganization plan.
01:34:18.830 --> 01:34:22.220
That being said, the main thing I wanted to comment on today
01:34:22.220 --> 01:34:26.283
is agenda item 34 on the de-energization plans.
01:34:26.283 --> 01:34:28.670
Specifically, I want to suggest
01:34:28.670 --> 01:34:31.890
that community resource centers are a great idea,
01:34:31.890 --> 01:34:34.060
but if they're going to be available
01:34:34.060 --> 01:34:36.390
for rate payers, they should be available
01:34:36.390 --> 01:34:39.290
for the entire duration of a PSPS event.
01:34:40.750 --> 01:34:43.470
We agree with parties such as Santa Clara County,
01:34:43.470 --> 01:34:45.560
which suggests these centers should be
01:34:45.560 --> 01:34:47.550
sited in public locations.
01:34:47.550 --> 01:34:50.050
And also believe that these centers
01:34:50.050 --> 01:34:52.740
should take advantage of existing resources
01:34:53.890 --> 01:34:57.690
to ensure that they provide the most quality,
01:34:59.900 --> 01:35:02.590
protection for vulnerable populations,
01:35:02.590 --> 01:35:04.980
and also that they can use grid isolation
01:35:04.980 --> 01:35:09.190
so that there is indeed electricity during an outage.
01:35:09.190 --> 01:35:10.023
Thank you.
01:35:11.300 --> 01:35:12.871
Thank you.
01:35:12.871 --> 01:35:14.560
Operator, the next caller please.
01:35:16.480 --> 01:35:18.730
Our next caller is a Gregory Young
01:35:18.730 --> 01:35:20.720
with Clean Coalition, you may go ahead.
01:35:22.370 --> 01:35:24.540
Hello, dear Commissioners and the public.
01:35:24.540 --> 01:35:26.070
Thank you for taking public comment today.
01:35:26.070 --> 01:35:27.840
And I hope everyone and their families are doing well
01:35:27.840 --> 01:35:30.140
during this unprecedented time.
01:35:30.140 --> 01:35:32.560
My name is Gregory Young with the Clean Coalition.
01:35:32.560 --> 01:35:36.380
I comments today are in regards to agenda item number 34,
01:35:36.380 --> 01:35:38.780
Phase 2 Updated and Additional Guidelines
01:35:38.780 --> 01:35:43.080
for De-Energization of Power Lines in Dangerous Conditions.
01:35:43.080 --> 01:35:45.320
We support Cal Advocates in suggesting
01:35:45.320 --> 01:35:48.580
that detailed PSPS maps should be made available
01:35:48.580 --> 01:35:51.300
in the morning periods before one starts.
01:35:51.300 --> 01:35:54.640
We also suggest that accurate public maps
01:35:54.640 --> 01:35:57.830
of past PSPS events are made available
01:35:57.830 --> 01:36:00.610
by an interactive map of sorts
01:36:00.610 --> 01:36:04.150
and also by a downloadable GIS data files.
01:36:04.150 --> 01:36:06.977
Among the numerous resulting benefits of this.
01:36:06.977 --> 01:36:09.870
It would help planners, homeowners,
01:36:09.870 --> 01:36:12.070
and rural energy developers in their ability
01:36:12.070 --> 01:36:13.760
to locate areas that have the potential
01:36:13.760 --> 01:36:16.430
to receive the Resilience SGIP Incentives
01:36:16.430 --> 01:36:18.570
due to having their electricity shutoff
01:36:18.570 --> 01:36:22.130
during two or more discrete PSPS events.
01:36:22.130 --> 01:36:23.470
All such information should be
01:36:23.470 --> 01:36:26.510
made available on an easy to use website.
01:36:26.510 --> 01:36:30.910
Ideally a single website should include this information
01:36:30.910 --> 01:36:34.790
for all three IOUs and the public should not have to search
01:36:34.790 --> 01:36:37.850
across different websites for such information.
01:36:37.850 --> 01:36:42.086
Moreover it would be beneficial if the IOU reported
01:36:42.086 --> 01:36:44.960
the critical facilities that might be affected
01:36:44.960 --> 01:36:49.960
in the next PSPS location or the one that is being warned.
01:36:50.760 --> 01:36:52.440
Thank you much for your time.
01:36:53.630 --> 01:36:55.420
Thank you for your time.
01:36:55.420 --> 01:36:56.980
Operator, next caller please.
01:36:58.670 --> 01:37:00.690
Our next caller is Benjamin Zink
01:37:00.690 --> 01:37:04.230
with East Bay Democratic Socialists of America.
01:37:04.230 --> 01:37:05.080
You may go ahead.
01:37:13.200 --> 01:37:15.400
And again, Benjamin Zink, your line is open.
01:37:18.470 --> 01:37:20.340
Hi, thank you.
01:37:20.340 --> 01:37:22.080
Again, my name is Benjamin Zink,
01:37:22.080 --> 01:37:25.338
I'm with the East Bay Democratic Socialists of America.
01:37:25.338 --> 01:37:27.250
Thank you for hearing our comments.
01:37:28.820 --> 01:37:31.170
I understand that there's a lot of pressure
01:37:31.170 --> 01:37:36.170
to wrap up the PG&E reorganization given all the concerns
01:37:37.840 --> 01:37:42.300
around COVID and it's disheartening to see the governor
01:37:42.300 --> 01:37:47.300
take a softer stance now that we have this health crisis,
01:37:48.010 --> 01:37:49.210
but it's understandable.
01:37:50.200 --> 01:37:52.260
What I want to emphasize is that these aren't
01:37:52.260 --> 01:37:55.140
separate problems, they're deeply connected.
01:37:57.770 --> 01:38:02.460
Shelter-in-place in the midst of a wildfire season
01:38:02.460 --> 01:38:05.220
and power shutoffs is gonna be a nightmare.
01:38:06.120 --> 01:38:09.407
And we know very clearly that we can't trust
01:38:09.407 --> 01:38:12.139
PG&E to take care of us.
01:38:12.139 --> 01:38:15.070
That's been shown time and time again.
01:38:15.070 --> 01:38:17.750
And so I think it's even more critical now
01:38:17.750 --> 01:38:22.460
that we take a hard stance on this issue.
01:38:23.390 --> 01:38:27.920
I think it's really important that we not compromise
01:38:27.920 --> 01:38:29.270
the safety of our citizens.
01:38:31.570 --> 01:38:35.126
It's gonna overwhelm our healthcare system
01:38:35.126 --> 01:38:39.380
to an incredible degree if we have both
01:38:39.380 --> 01:38:44.380
a pandemic and huge problems with fires and smoke.
01:38:45.730 --> 01:38:50.730
And I really urge you to work towards
01:38:50.830 --> 01:38:53.200
a better solution that doesn't include PG&E,
01:38:54.850 --> 01:38:56.240
who we very clearly can't count on.
01:38:56.240 --> 01:38:57.740
Thank you.
01:38:57.740 --> 01:38:59.200
Thank you.
01:38:59.200 --> 01:39:00.850
Operator, the next caller please.
01:39:02.760 --> 01:39:05.500
Our next caller is Audrey Ichinose,
01:39:05.500 --> 01:39:08.640
with East Bay Community Energy Alliance.
01:39:08.640 --> 01:39:10.240
You may go ahead.
01:39:10.240 --> 01:39:11.870
Thank you very much.
01:39:11.870 --> 01:39:13.270
My name is Audrey Ichinose.
01:39:14.164 --> 01:39:17.900
And I am a member of East Bay Clean Power Alliance
01:39:17.900 --> 01:39:22.900
and the statewide California Alliance for Community Energy.
01:39:23.866 --> 01:39:27.920
I also am speaking about the reorganization.
01:39:27.920 --> 01:39:30.021
In these times of great losses,
01:39:30.021 --> 01:39:35.021
let's take stock of what we do have as Californians.
01:39:35.850 --> 01:39:39.670
We have 19 healthy, popular functioning CCAs,
01:39:40.858 --> 01:39:42.060
with two more on the way.
01:39:42.060 --> 01:39:45.010
And one of those two is BU Clean Energy,
01:39:45.010 --> 01:39:46.960
which begins next year.
01:39:46.960 --> 01:39:51.900
Yes, Butte County, home to the devastated town of Paradise.
01:39:51.900 --> 01:39:55.160
Now CCAs, VCCAs, and we should include
01:39:55.160 --> 01:39:58.070
all the municipal utilities in California,
01:39:58.070 --> 01:39:59.420
of which there are so many.
01:40:00.260 --> 01:40:03.570
They all share three things going for them.
01:40:03.570 --> 01:40:08.370
Transparency and community, they're community run.
01:40:08.370 --> 01:40:11.650
Secondly, they're innovative, as they support
01:40:11.650 --> 01:40:14.860
many of the local renewable energy projects.
01:40:14.860 --> 01:40:19.280
And thirdly, they're anchored in the local economies,
01:40:19.280 --> 01:40:21.230
providing affordable electricity
01:40:21.230 --> 01:40:24.752
to residential and CNI customers.
01:40:24.752 --> 01:40:29.170
And mainly they build broad tax bases,
01:40:29.170 --> 01:40:32.800
which help to fund schools and community institutions,
01:40:32.800 --> 01:40:37.180
and of course fund more local growth and innovation.
01:40:37.180 --> 01:40:41.360
So, what does these CCAs and Munis really need?
01:40:41.360 --> 01:40:45.490
These building blocks of a new energy infrastructure?
01:40:45.490 --> 01:40:49.780
They need a secure, hardened, high-frequency,
01:40:49.780 --> 01:40:52.560
transmission grid.
(buzzer chiming)
01:40:52.560 --> 01:40:53.700
I'm sorry.
01:40:53.700 --> 01:40:58.700
So, anyway, what we need is a better restructuring of PG&E.
01:40:59.230 --> 01:41:00.130
Thank you so much.
01:41:00.980 --> 01:41:02.400
Thank you, Audrey.
01:41:02.400 --> 01:41:04.050
Operator, the next caller please.
01:41:05.930 --> 01:41:07.820
Our next caller is Michael Aguirre,
01:41:07.820 --> 01:41:10.430
with Aguirre & Severson.
01:41:10.430 --> 01:41:11.960
Your line is open.
01:41:11.960 --> 01:41:14.452
Thank you. Good morning, everyone.
01:41:14.452 --> 01:41:16.910
You probably don't remember this,
01:41:16.910 --> 01:41:18.530
but I have actually been fighting
01:41:18.530 --> 01:41:20.800
with the CPUC for about 11 years now.
01:41:21.810 --> 01:41:23.780
And it's been quite an experience.
01:41:23.780 --> 01:41:28.480
But along the way, I remember the day that I picked up
01:41:28.480 --> 01:41:31.210
the decision in the San Diego Gas and Electric case,
01:41:32.070 --> 01:41:34.765
and saw under Commissioner Randolph
01:41:34.765 --> 01:41:38.760
that the two brave administrative law judges said no
01:41:38.760 --> 01:41:42.560
to SDG&E because they had not proven prudence
01:41:42.560 --> 01:41:44.570
in connection with recovering
01:41:44.570 --> 01:41:47.740
their uninsured wildfire costs in 2007.
01:41:47.740 --> 01:41:50.560
And it was just so gratifying to represent
01:41:50.560 --> 01:41:52.830
the forgotten utility customers.
01:41:52.830 --> 01:41:54.990
Years before that, when I represented
01:41:54.990 --> 01:41:56.890
the forgotten farm workers,
01:41:56.890 --> 01:42:01.140
and I recognize Commissioner Guzman Aceves
01:42:01.140 --> 01:42:03.710
and Commissioner Shiroma, who I'm sure that has
01:42:03.710 --> 01:42:05.460
a special place in your heart.
01:42:05.460 --> 01:42:08.150
When I took up their cause and fought for the farm workers
01:42:08.150 --> 01:42:12.420
in Yuma in 1993 against tremendous odds,
01:42:12.420 --> 01:42:14.630
and we were able to turn back the growers
01:42:14.630 --> 01:42:16.250
and save the farm workers union.
01:42:16.250 --> 01:42:18.190
it was an amazing experience.
01:42:18.190 --> 01:42:19.740
The feeling of gratification.
01:42:22.080 --> 01:42:25.720
It reminds me of something that Robert Kennedy said.
01:42:28.930 --> 01:42:30.660
No, I'm speaking. I'm speaking.
01:42:30.660 --> 01:42:33.830
It reminds me of something that Robert Kennedy said
01:42:33.830 --> 01:42:35.760
when he spoke in South Africa,
01:42:35.760 --> 01:42:36.920
in which he spoke out and said,
01:42:36.920 --> 01:42:39.620
"Each time a person stands up for a principle
01:42:39.620 --> 01:42:41.140
"or strikes out against injustice,
01:42:41.140 --> 01:42:44.190
"they send forth a tiny ripple of hope."
01:42:44.190 --> 01:42:46.360
And that's what you have the ability to do.
01:42:46.360 --> 01:42:48.830
I mean, yes, you've all been talked to,
01:42:48.830 --> 01:42:51.700
the governor's office, everybody knows what the deal is.
01:42:51.700 --> 01:42:53.473
It's all,
(buzzer chiming)
01:42:53.473 --> 01:42:54.890
the cake has been baked.
01:42:54.890 --> 01:42:57.110
But just think about, think about this.
01:42:58.200 --> 01:43:00.560
If you were to come back and say,
01:43:00.560 --> 01:43:03.360
"We want to look for some other alternatives.
01:43:03.360 --> 01:43:06.427
"The idea that PG&E is gonna be able to pay,
01:43:06.427 --> 01:43:08.670
"raise enough money to pay for all the debt
01:43:08.670 --> 01:43:11.727
"that they're creating, and then also raise more money
01:43:11.727 --> 01:43:14.330
"in order to make the infrastructure improvements."
01:43:14.330 --> 01:43:16.630
That really isn't a workable plan.
01:43:16.630 --> 01:43:20.329
Maybe it would be better to have them sell off their assets.
01:43:20.329 --> 01:43:23.560
pay off whatever obligations they can with those assets,
01:43:23.560 --> 01:43:26.150
that's what they do in Chapter 11,
01:43:26.150 --> 01:43:30.820
and reorganize PG&E into the eight components
01:43:30.820 --> 01:43:34.840
that it has been divided into by the CAISO.
01:43:34.840 --> 01:43:38.350
So they've already been divided into eight separate areas.
01:43:38.350 --> 01:43:40.020
And you could sell off their assets.
01:43:40.020 --> 01:43:41.550
You know, you've got SB-350,
01:43:41.550 --> 01:43:43.360
which is gonna put a receiver in there
01:43:43.360 --> 01:43:44.900
if they don't come through.
01:43:44.900 --> 01:43:46.499
But why do it that way?
01:43:46.499 --> 01:43:49.196
Why continue down this road?
01:43:49.196 --> 01:43:51.050
When you don't need to.
01:43:51.050 --> 01:43:53.640
And think about how happy,
01:43:53.640 --> 01:43:55.710
think about how happy you will make
01:43:55.710 --> 01:43:59.840
the people of the Bay Area, and the customers of PG&E,
01:43:59.840 --> 01:44:01.850
if you were to do what Robert Kennedy said,
01:44:01.850 --> 01:44:04.810
which is to stand up and strike out
01:44:04.810 --> 01:44:07.040
and send forth a tiny ripple of hope
01:44:07.040 --> 01:44:08.520
to all the people in this community.
01:44:08.520 --> 01:44:10.460
I know, whether you're listening to me,
01:44:10.460 --> 01:44:14.090
whether you're thinking with your heart,
01:44:14.090 --> 01:44:15.530
or thinking just with expediency.
01:44:15.530 --> 01:44:17.380
Michael, you're over your time, Mr. Aguirre.
01:44:17.380 --> 01:44:19.960
I'm so sorry, you're over your time, you're well over.
01:44:19.960 --> 01:44:21.578
Oh, that's fine, sorry,
01:44:21.578 --> 01:44:22.903
no, that was my fault, please, forgive me.
01:44:22.903 --> 01:44:24.370
I didn't realize, Let me stop right there then.
01:44:24.370 --> 01:44:27.290
Thank you so much for listening to me. Sorry I went over.
01:44:27.290 --> 01:44:30.310
Thank you.
01:44:30.310 --> 01:44:32.810
Operator, are there any other callers on the line?
01:44:35.210 --> 01:44:37.710
I show no other callers online at this time.
01:44:38.980 --> 01:44:41.984
Okay, thank you very much for sharing that operator.
01:44:41.984 --> 01:44:46.060
Public Advisor Brown, are there any emails from the public?
01:44:48.000 --> 01:44:49.120
Good morning, President Batjer.
01:44:49.120 --> 01:44:50.700
Yes there are.
01:44:50.700 --> 01:44:54.420
In today's meeting we received three different form letters
01:44:54.420 --> 01:44:57.320
from several people before the 10 o'clock deadline.
01:44:57.320 --> 01:44:59.978
I would also like to note, we received many of these
01:44:59.978 --> 01:45:03.850
after previous meetings as well.
01:45:03.850 --> 01:45:05.620
Also, we've received several email comments
01:45:05.620 --> 01:45:08.250
from people who were able to comment over the phone
01:45:08.250 --> 01:45:10.470
or submitted identical comments at prior meetings.
01:45:10.470 --> 01:45:15.200
So pursuant to our rules, I will not read those.
01:45:15.200 --> 01:45:17.400
The first form letter we received
01:45:18.601 --> 01:45:21.700
from over 30 people, and it reads:
01:45:23.600 --> 01:45:25.580
"Commissioners and Governor Newsome."
01:45:25.580 --> 01:45:27.420
Yeah, can you hear me all right?
01:45:27.420 --> 01:45:29.000
One second. I just want to mention,
01:45:29.000 --> 01:45:33.510
for those emails that came in at a different time
01:45:33.510 --> 01:45:36.330
or not at the right time, they will be distributed
01:45:36.330 --> 01:45:38.620
to the commissioners so we all will be able
01:45:38.620 --> 01:45:41.193
to see and read them, so thank you.
01:45:41.193 --> 01:45:42.776
Yeah.
Of course.
01:45:44.095 --> 01:45:46.250
Sure, so it reads:
01:45:46.250 --> 01:45:48.140
"Commissioners and Governor Newsome.
01:45:48.140 --> 01:45:51.120
"I support the Reclaim Our Power Utility Justice Campaign's
01:45:51.120 --> 01:45:53.730
"demands for a PG&E bankruptcy deal
01:45:53.730 --> 01:45:56.830
"that works for the people of California, not Wall Street.
01:45:56.830 --> 01:45:58.670
"The CPUC administrative law judge's
01:45:58.670 --> 01:46:00.560
"proposed decision does not live up
01:46:00.560 --> 01:46:03.680
"to what Californians need for their energy system.
01:46:03.680 --> 01:46:06.510
"Californians need true safety from fires, smoke,
01:46:06.510 --> 01:46:09.450
"and shutoffs, including having impacted communities
01:46:09.450 --> 01:46:11.440
"at the decision table about if,
01:46:11.440 --> 01:46:13.350
"when, and how the power is shut off.
01:46:14.320 --> 01:46:17.320
"We shouldn't be forced to pay for PG&E's failures.
01:46:17.320 --> 01:46:18.390
"All debt repayment should be
01:46:18.390 --> 01:46:20.590
"included in the plan, not hidden,
01:46:20.590 --> 01:46:23.355
"and savings should benefit rate payers, not shareholders.
01:46:23.355 --> 01:46:26.010
"Further, in this moment of public health crisis
01:46:26.010 --> 01:46:28.732
"and income loss, the commission
01:46:28.732 --> 01:46:30.280
"must acknowledge energy as a human right,
01:46:30.280 --> 01:46:32.673
"and forgive the debts of all those
01:46:32.673 --> 01:46:33.970
"unable to pay for utility service.
01:46:33.970 --> 01:46:36.370
"Impacted communities, including fire survivors,
01:46:38.846 --> 01:46:41.550
"need to be compensated immediately in cash,
01:46:41.550 --> 01:46:44.880
"not with volatile PG&E stock that is tied up in a trust
01:46:44.880 --> 01:46:47.400
"that claimants themselves cannot control.
01:46:47.400 --> 01:46:49.530
"Any bankruptcy deal that this commission approves
01:46:49.530 --> 01:46:51.536
"must have true accountability,
01:46:51.536 --> 01:46:53.860
"including a fully independent monitor
01:46:53.860 --> 01:46:56.380
"selected by and reporting to the legislature
01:46:56.380 --> 01:46:58.380
"with full access to utility operations.
01:46:59.580 --> 01:47:01.890
"This monitor must be empowered to expediently
01:47:01.890 --> 01:47:05.500
"and transparently reject PG&E's business license
01:47:05.500 --> 01:47:07.590
"and transmission to a new energy model.
01:47:08.450 --> 01:47:10.010
"Any deal that this commission approves
01:47:10.010 --> 01:47:13.100
"should use every opportunity to transform our system,
01:47:13.100 --> 01:47:16.370
"to clean distributed energy and sustainable future,
01:47:16.370 --> 01:47:17.790
"including pushing for investments
01:47:17.790 --> 01:47:20.880
"in local renewable resources and a permanent retirement
01:47:20.880 --> 01:47:23.690
"of fossil fuel and nuclear infrastructure.
01:47:23.690 --> 01:47:25.310
"Any deal that this commission approves
01:47:25.310 --> 01:47:27.260
"must meaningfully include workers,
01:47:27.260 --> 01:47:29.940
"fire survivors, people with disabilities,
01:47:29.940 --> 01:47:32.010
"and environmental justice communities on the board
01:47:32.010 --> 01:47:34.320
"and other decision making bodies.
01:47:34.320 --> 01:47:37.110
"This deal in front of the CPUC does not meet the criteria
01:47:37.110 --> 01:47:39.120
"that the people of California need.
01:47:39.120 --> 01:47:42.830
"I demand that PG&E's Plan of Reorganization be rejected
01:47:42.830 --> 01:47:45.630
"until one that meets this criteria is brought forward."
01:47:48.050 --> 01:47:49.910
The following people submitted the comment
01:47:49.910 --> 01:47:52.760
that I just read with additional language.
01:47:52.760 --> 01:47:55.740
Joseph May added: "As someone who's homeless,
01:47:55.740 --> 01:47:58.250
"50 feet from a mandatory evacuation zone
01:47:58.250 --> 01:48:02.400
"during the 2018 fires, and whose power has been
01:48:02.400 --> 01:48:05.490
"repeatedly cut off by PG&E to protect our safety
01:48:05.490 --> 01:48:08.390
"that was first endangered by PG&E's own greed,
01:48:08.390 --> 01:48:10.870
"negligence, corruption, and incompetence,
01:48:10.870 --> 01:48:13.830
"I support the Reclaim Our Power Utility Justice Campaign
01:48:13.830 --> 01:48:16.260
"demands for a PG&E bankruptcy deal
01:48:16.260 --> 01:48:19.210
"that works for the people of California, not Wall Street."
01:48:20.950 --> 01:48:24.500
Joe Jordan added: "Commissioners, Governor Newsome,
01:48:24.500 --> 01:48:26.890
"Any debt forgiveness should be
01:48:26.890 --> 01:48:30.520
"for now impoverished rate payers,
01:48:30.520 --> 01:48:33.160
"not for already wealthy corporations and shareholders.
01:48:33.160 --> 01:48:34.880
"Think about that.
01:48:34.880 --> 01:48:37.530
"Meanwhile, kudos, and please continue on standing strong
01:48:37.530 --> 01:48:39.080
"for protecting public health."
01:48:39.940 --> 01:48:44.460
And Mishwa Lee added: "I believe we all want
01:48:44.460 --> 01:48:47.410
"the safest and healthiest life possible for our families.
01:48:47.410 --> 01:48:51.600
"As a lifelong resident of California for over 72 years,
01:48:51.600 --> 01:48:53.290
"I have lived through so many deadly
01:48:53.290 --> 01:48:55.110
"and negligent practices of PG&E
01:48:55.110 --> 01:48:56.740
"that I believe are criminal.
01:48:56.740 --> 01:48:58.710
"Therefore, I support the Reclaim Our Power
01:48:58.710 --> 01:49:01.140
"Utility Justice Campaign's demands
01:49:01.140 --> 01:49:02.810
"for a PG&E bankruptcy deal that works
01:49:02.810 --> 01:49:05.420
"for the people of California, not Wall Street."
01:49:06.760 --> 01:49:08.640
I will now switch off to Michelle Cook
01:49:08.640 --> 01:49:10.830
to read the second form comment.
01:49:12.390 --> 01:49:13.223
Thank you.
01:49:14.415 --> 01:49:15.248
Good morning.
01:49:15.248 --> 01:49:17.430
As stated earlier, there is a second comment
01:49:17.430 --> 01:49:21.020
that we have received from several members of the public.
01:49:21.020 --> 01:49:22.200
More than 10 people.
01:49:23.810 --> 01:49:27.200
It reads: "Commissioners, you have heard for weeks now,
01:49:27.200 --> 01:49:29.760
"how the PG&E plan in front of you doesn't work
01:49:29.760 --> 01:49:31.640
"for rate payers, fire survivors,
01:49:31.640 --> 01:49:33.670
"our communities, or the climate.
01:49:33.670 --> 01:49:35.470
"You have the power and responsibility
01:49:35.470 --> 01:49:38.000
"to build an energy system that works for all of us
01:49:38.000 --> 01:49:40.040
"and our communities have the answers
01:49:40.040 --> 01:49:41.950
"to how to build that system.
01:49:41.950 --> 01:49:44.420
"PG&E has proven time and time again,
01:49:44.420 --> 01:49:46.830
"from San Bruno to Paradise, that our safety
01:49:46.830 --> 01:49:48.751
"is the least of their concerns
01:49:48.751 --> 01:49:50.840
"and that they will put profit over safety.
01:49:50.840 --> 01:49:53.330
"Please reject any plan which keeps in place
01:49:53.330 --> 01:49:55.030
"a for-profit utility.
01:49:55.030 --> 01:49:56.970
"Until the profit motive is removed,
01:49:56.970 --> 01:49:59.750
"the energy grid will remain unsafe for communities
01:49:59.750 --> 01:50:02.910
"because the underlying motivations remain the same.
01:50:02.910 --> 01:50:04.510
"I ask you to reject this plan,
01:50:04.510 --> 01:50:07.130
"unless it includes the following."
01:50:07.130 --> 01:50:09.770
And then one to two choices are given,
01:50:09.770 --> 01:50:11.530
which people have selected:
01:50:11.530 --> 01:50:13.320
"Californians need true safety
01:50:13.320 --> 01:50:16.130
"from utility caused fires, smoke, and shutoffs.
01:50:16.130 --> 01:50:19.450
"Any for-profit plan places profit over all else,
01:50:19.450 --> 01:50:21.460
"causing more fires like the Camp Fire
01:50:21.460 --> 01:50:23.020
"and more shutoffs because money,
01:50:23.020 --> 01:50:24.870
"which should have gone to ensure safety
01:50:24.870 --> 01:50:27.520
"instead goes to line the pockets of shareholders."
01:50:28.635 --> 01:50:31.470
Second, "Rate payers need to be protected.
01:50:31.470 --> 01:50:33.910
"Any for-profit utility must make profit
01:50:33.910 --> 01:50:35.470
"and continue to increase rates,
01:50:35.470 --> 01:50:39.070
"whereas a public utility is not obligated to make profits,
01:50:39.070 --> 01:50:42.450
"continually increasing financial burdens of rate payers."
01:50:43.430 --> 01:50:46.300
Third, "Customers need rigorous, independent,
01:50:46.300 --> 01:50:48.910
"democratic oversight of their utility.
01:50:48.910 --> 01:50:52.400
"This cannot truly happen when utilities are run for-profit,
01:50:52.400 --> 01:50:54.560
"beholden, and answering to shareholders.
01:50:54.560 --> 01:50:56.090
"A public utility, which answers
01:50:56.090 --> 01:50:57.850
"to regular people and rate payers
01:50:57.850 --> 01:51:01.050
"can be democratically and transparently run."
01:51:01.050 --> 01:51:03.960
Or: "Californians need a transformational energy system
01:51:03.960 --> 01:51:06.980
"based on a clean decentralized energy model.
01:51:06.980 --> 01:51:09.330
"For-profit utilities will not prioritize
01:51:09.330 --> 01:51:12.570
"clean energy over profit or become decentralized.
01:51:12.570 --> 01:51:14.620
"On the other hand, public utilities can
01:51:14.620 --> 01:51:16.700
"and must prioritize clean energy,
01:51:16.700 --> 01:51:17.890
"which protects the planet,
01:51:17.890 --> 01:51:20.180
"and public utilities can become decentralized,
01:51:20.180 --> 01:51:22.160
"preventing power from being transported
01:51:22.160 --> 01:51:25.010
"hundreds of miles on power lines.
01:51:25.010 --> 01:51:27.550
"Any deal must remove profit from our power grid,
01:51:27.550 --> 01:51:28.800
"or it must be rejected."
01:51:30.080 --> 01:51:32.000
The following members of the public
01:51:32.000 --> 01:51:34.730
submitted that same comment with additional language.
01:51:34.730 --> 01:51:37.480
Vivian Dai added: "To whom it may concern.
01:51:37.480 --> 01:51:40.270
"My name is Vivian, and I'm a San Jose resident
01:51:40.270 --> 01:51:42.660
"and member of the Silicon Valley DSA.
01:51:42.660 --> 01:51:45.320
"As a democratic socialist, I oppose any plan
01:51:45.320 --> 01:51:48.370
"to bail out PG&E due to its long track record
01:51:48.370 --> 01:51:51.050
"of putting profits over people."
01:51:51.050 --> 01:51:53.390
Heidi Bailey added: "Commissioners,
01:51:53.390 --> 01:51:54.670
"My name is Heidi Bailey.
01:51:54.670 --> 01:51:56.340
"I live in Oakland, California,
01:51:56.340 --> 01:51:58.760
"and am a member of the East Bay Chapter
01:51:58.760 --> 01:52:01.120
"of the Democratic Socialists of America.
01:52:01.120 --> 01:52:03.440
"I am writing to urge you to think long and hard
01:52:03.440 --> 01:52:07.190
"before allowing PG&E to remain a for-profit entity.
01:52:07.190 --> 01:52:08.990
"I work in a social service agency
01:52:08.990 --> 01:52:10.820
"that provides support to adults
01:52:10.820 --> 01:52:12.730
"who have developmental disabilities
01:52:12.730 --> 01:52:15.313
"to live independently in their own homes.
01:52:15.313 --> 01:52:18.990
"When we face last minute, power shutoffs,
01:52:18.990 --> 01:52:21.590
"this put the lives of our clients at risk.
01:52:21.590 --> 01:52:25.210
"Many of them rely on electricity for lifesaving devices.
01:52:25.210 --> 01:52:27.590
"PG&E didn't just inconvenience people.
01:52:27.590 --> 01:52:29.180
"It risked the lives of many."
01:52:30.180 --> 01:52:33.220
Caroline Kaney added: "Please reject PG&E's
01:52:34.066 --> 01:52:35.830
"desperate, bail out hungry, bankruptcy plan,
01:52:35.830 --> 01:52:37.990
"and instead, please recommend to Governor Newsome
01:52:37.990 --> 01:52:41.350
"to convert this for-profit company into a public utility,
01:52:41.350 --> 01:52:43.730
"answerable to rate payers and tax payers."
01:52:44.630 --> 01:52:46.890
Bret Frangipane added: "Good morning.
01:52:46.890 --> 01:52:48.450
"My name is Bret Frangipane.
01:52:48.450 --> 01:52:50.670
"And I've lived in California for 20 years.
01:52:50.670 --> 01:52:52.950
"This issue matters to me because twice
01:52:52.950 --> 01:52:56.160
"in the past three years, my family has been
01:52:56.160 --> 01:52:58.830
"put on evacuation alert for nearby fires."
01:53:02.370 --> 01:53:05.480
Sarah Singer, who commented by phone, added:
01:53:05.480 --> 01:53:07.970
"I find it ridiculous that this is even a question.
01:53:07.970 --> 01:53:10.870
"PG&E has cost thousands of people their homes,
01:53:10.870 --> 01:53:12.850
"livelihoods, and even lives.
01:53:12.850 --> 01:53:15.320
"This board can save future lives and homes
01:53:15.320 --> 01:53:17.590
"or be complicit in their loss."
01:53:17.590 --> 01:53:20.040
Jeff Newman added: "Hello, Commissioners.
01:53:20.040 --> 01:53:23.240
"I'm Jeff Newman, a citizen of Mountain view, California,
01:53:23.240 --> 01:53:26.270
"and associated with the Silicon Valley DSA.
01:53:26.270 --> 01:53:29.370
"I care deeply about the issue of climate change mitigation,
01:53:29.370 --> 01:53:31.500
"and this email is my way of trying
01:53:31.500 --> 01:53:33.600
"to make a difference close to home.
01:53:33.600 --> 01:53:35.180
"The nature of a private company
01:53:35.180 --> 01:53:37.880
"is to put shareholders and investors first.
01:53:37.880 --> 01:53:39.660
"This can work well for some companies,
01:53:39.660 --> 01:53:42.760
"but not those that provide a truly essential public service
01:53:42.760 --> 01:53:45.580
"and have little competition, like PG&E.
01:53:45.580 --> 01:53:47.750
"The breakdown of the for-profit model
01:53:47.750 --> 01:53:50.310
"in serving our community has clearly been shown
01:53:50.310 --> 01:53:52.770
"in PG&E's core maintenance of the energy grid,
01:53:52.770 --> 01:53:56.500
"even before the disastrous wildfires of recent years."
01:53:56.500 --> 01:53:57.750
At this time I'll turn it back
01:53:57.750 --> 01:53:59.440
to Public Advisor Allison Brown.
01:54:01.030 --> 01:54:01.863
Thank you.
01:54:01.863 --> 01:54:03.640
Thank you, Michelle.
01:54:03.640 --> 01:54:05.170
The third form comment,
01:54:06.660 --> 01:54:10.540
which we received from over five people, reads:
01:54:12.078 --> 01:54:13.670
"Dear Commissioners,
01:54:13.670 --> 01:54:16.390
"Please reject any PG&E plan which keeps in place
01:54:16.390 --> 01:54:18.220
"a for-profit utility.
01:54:18.220 --> 01:54:19.780
"Until the profit motive is removed,
01:54:19.780 --> 01:54:22.660
"the energy grid will remain unsafe for communities
01:54:22.660 --> 01:54:24.340
"because the underlying motivations
01:54:24.340 --> 01:54:26.390
"remain the same, profit over people."
01:54:27.990 --> 01:54:30.440
And we also received the following unique emails.
01:54:31.770 --> 01:54:35.390
From Carl St. Clair: "Dear CPUC members,
01:54:35.390 --> 01:54:37.200
"I strongly urge each and every one of you
01:54:37.200 --> 01:54:39.673
"to reject the proposed PG&E deal.
01:54:39.673 --> 01:54:42.420
"For 40 years, the state of California
01:54:42.420 --> 01:54:44.760
"has bailed PG&E out for nothing.
01:54:44.760 --> 01:54:46.940
"The people of California have continued to suffer
01:54:46.940 --> 01:54:48.510
"at the hands of a company that has shown
01:54:48.510 --> 01:54:50.350
"time and time again, it will put
01:54:50.350 --> 01:54:53.090
"profits and shareholders over residents.
01:54:53.090 --> 01:54:55.330
"History has shown that the investor-owned utility
01:54:55.330 --> 01:54:58.880
"is failed economic thinking, and will only prove disastrous
01:54:58.880 --> 01:55:01.330
"as the climate crisis intensifies.
01:55:01.330 --> 01:55:04.186
"We must not forget, as we sit in what inevitably is
01:55:04.186 --> 01:55:09.186
"only one of the many increasingly common hot and dry days.
01:55:09.620 --> 01:55:11.850
"The steps that are taken here will determine
01:55:11.850 --> 01:55:14.240
"what future we leave for the children of humanity.
01:55:14.240 --> 01:55:16.290
"Forever in solidarity, Carl St. Clair."
01:55:17.710 --> 01:55:19.850
The next comment is from Michael Gasser,
01:55:19.850 --> 01:55:21.720
from Science for the People:
01:55:21.720 --> 01:55:23.070
"Dear CPUC members,
01:55:23.070 --> 01:55:24.340
"Enough is enough.
01:55:24.340 --> 01:55:26.930
"Accepting PG&E's plan for exit from bankruptcy,
01:55:26.930 --> 01:55:28.140
"just plays into the hands
01:55:28.140 --> 01:55:31.190
"of this essentially criminal organization.
01:55:31.190 --> 01:55:34.180
"It's time for the hard conversation
01:55:34.180 --> 01:55:37.380
"about how to make energy public in Northern California.
01:55:37.380 --> 01:55:39.450
"Please reject PG&E's plan.
01:55:39.450 --> 01:55:41.500
"Michael Gasser, Science for the People."
01:55:42.350 --> 01:55:44.360
Rafael Izanaho writes:
01:55:45.240 --> 01:55:47.360
"I care about the outcome of the PG&E deal
01:55:47.360 --> 01:55:48.600
"because the people who suffered
01:55:48.600 --> 01:55:50.850
"from recent California wildfires,
01:55:50.850 --> 01:55:52.820
"is there a fair reimbursement?
01:55:52.820 --> 01:55:55.440
"The deal in front of the CPUC does not meet the criteria
01:55:55.440 --> 01:55:57.460
"that the people of California need.
01:55:57.460 --> 01:56:00.789
"I demand the PG&E plan for reorganization be rejected
01:56:00.789 --> 01:56:04.120
"until one that meets these criteria is brought forward.
01:56:04.120 --> 01:56:05.040
"Rafael Izanaho."
01:56:06.700 --> 01:56:09.380
John Mariansall writes:
01:56:09.380 --> 01:56:12.850
"I would like to say the CPUC should allow
01:56:12.850 --> 01:56:14.480
"the state of California and its elected
01:56:14.480 --> 01:56:16.700
"Northern California municipalities
01:56:16.700 --> 01:56:19.610
"to acquire PG&E as a public utility.
01:56:19.610 --> 01:56:20.920
"And that the current stockholders
01:56:20.920 --> 01:56:23.220
"must be reimbursed at a 2% interest rate."
01:56:24.920 --> 01:56:26.790
Matthew Panacea writes:
01:56:27.680 --> 01:56:30.420
"PG&E is literally a criminal organization.
01:56:30.420 --> 01:56:33.530
"It is absurd that continues to exist as a private entity
01:56:33.530 --> 01:56:36.260
"that is allowed to repeatedly murderer our citizens
01:56:36.260 --> 01:56:38.460
"because of negligence and profit-seeking,
01:56:38.460 --> 01:56:40.550
"while suffering little consequences.
01:56:40.550 --> 01:56:43.180
"Stop bailing out PG&E and make it a nonprofit,
01:56:43.180 --> 01:56:46.780
"state-controlled entity that is governed transparently,
01:56:46.780 --> 01:56:49.130
"and for the people instead of profit.
01:56:49.130 --> 01:56:51.080
"We don't have time for anything else."
01:56:52.620 --> 01:56:53.970
Reverend Brian K. Wilson,
01:56:53.970 --> 01:56:56.380
from the Bay Area Christian Connection writes:
01:56:57.290 --> 01:56:59.380
"Dear CPUC Commissioners.
01:56:59.380 --> 01:57:01.580
"I am the pastor of Bay Area Christian Connection,
01:57:01.580 --> 01:57:04.150
"an active congregation serving members
01:57:04.150 --> 01:57:06.070
"in Oakland and the East Bay.
01:57:06.070 --> 01:57:07.950
"I strongly support the proposed decision
01:57:07.950 --> 01:57:12.830
"and rulemaking 18-07-005, which details new approaches
01:57:12.830 --> 01:57:14.940
"to disconnections and re-connections
01:57:14.940 --> 01:57:17.820
"that improve energy access and contain costs.
01:57:17.820 --> 01:57:19.510
"It is essential to African Americans
01:57:19.510 --> 01:57:20.990
"in the San Francisco Bay Area,
01:57:20.990 --> 01:57:23.355
"and throughout the state of California,
01:57:23.355 --> 01:57:24.900
"that you approve this decision,
01:57:24.900 --> 01:57:28.030
"and each of the vital consumer protections it proposes.
01:57:28.030 --> 01:57:29.830
"As a pastor with 30 years experience,
01:57:29.830 --> 01:57:33.200
"I am fully aware of vulnerable congregants and loved ones
01:57:33.200 --> 01:57:36.020
"who have long suffered under heinous utility policies
01:57:36.020 --> 01:57:37.500
"and needlessly enforced shutoffs
01:57:37.500 --> 01:57:39.680
"of life-sustaining utility services.
01:57:39.680 --> 01:57:43.860
"We know, and you know, these disconnections
01:57:43.860 --> 01:57:46.540
"transform already burdensome expenses
01:57:46.540 --> 01:57:49.350
"into absolutely prohibitive, unpayable bills,
01:57:49.350 --> 01:57:53.060
"and tragically deny access to essential services.
01:57:54.205 --> 01:57:56.230
"The proposed decision provides
01:57:56.230 --> 01:57:58.780
"prudent alternatives to draconian measures.
01:57:58.780 --> 01:58:01.630
"Among the policies I strongly support:
01:58:01.630 --> 01:58:03.350
"Banning utilities from all shutoff
01:58:03.350 --> 01:58:07.377
"whenever a 72 hour weather forecast predicts temperatures
01:58:07.377 --> 01:58:10.660
"above 100 degrees or below 32 degrees.
01:58:10.660 --> 01:58:12.340
"Preventing utilities from shutoff
01:58:12.340 --> 01:58:14.160
"to medical baseline customers
01:58:14.160 --> 01:58:18.100
"and households with an infant under 12 months,
01:58:18.100 --> 01:58:20.210
"or an adult who was 65 or older,
01:58:20.210 --> 01:58:22.890
"as long as they agree to a 12 month payment plan.
01:58:22.890 --> 01:58:25.630
"Eliminating deposits to establish utility service,
01:58:25.630 --> 01:58:28.690
"or restore utility service, after a shutoff.
01:58:28.690 --> 01:58:30.340
"Protecting customers from being forced
01:58:30.340 --> 01:58:32.620
"to pay utility bills of former tenants
01:58:32.620 --> 01:58:34.733
"when they move into a new apartment.
01:58:34.733 --> 01:58:36.680
"I urge you to immediately enact
01:58:36.680 --> 01:58:39.240
"all of the rulemaking proposed policies.
01:58:39.240 --> 01:58:42.770
"Consumers of color across our state deserve nothing less.
01:58:42.770 --> 01:58:44.670
"Sincerely, Reverend Brian K. Wilson."
01:58:45.780 --> 01:58:47.830
I will now turn it back over to Michelle.
01:58:50.240 --> 01:58:54.040
The next email is from Marilyn Fusk:
01:58:54.040 --> 01:58:57.360
"The state of California cannot go on as it has for seasons,
01:58:57.360 --> 01:59:00.850
"with aged power lines starting devastating fires.
01:59:00.850 --> 01:59:03.130
"The definition of insanity is to continue
01:59:03.130 --> 01:59:05.800
"to do things wrong repeatedly.
01:59:05.800 --> 01:59:09.170
"We must upgrade all old wiring in wilderness areas
01:59:09.170 --> 01:59:11.610
"and set up a system to halt the network
01:59:11.610 --> 01:59:13.530
"when there is a faulty wire.
01:59:13.530 --> 01:59:15.750
"Anything less than this is throwing our state
01:59:15.750 --> 01:59:17.960
"into yet another maelstrom.
01:59:17.960 --> 01:59:19.810
"No room here for cutting costs.
01:59:19.810 --> 01:59:21.110
"Thank you, Marilyn Fusk."
01:59:22.130 --> 01:59:23.950
Doug Carrol writes: "Good morning,
01:59:23.950 --> 01:59:26.610
"And thank you for taking the time to read my email.
01:59:26.610 --> 01:59:28.740
"Thank you also for your continued patience
01:59:28.740 --> 01:59:30.450
"throughout this process and commitment
01:59:30.450 --> 01:59:32.780
"to listening to dozens of often repetitive,
01:59:32.780 --> 01:59:34.910
"but unfortunately misguided opinions
01:59:34.910 --> 01:59:36.470
"by well-meaning people.
01:59:36.470 --> 01:59:39.520
"It is important to allow every voice to be heard.
01:59:39.520 --> 01:59:41.580
"I know this well because I spent over a decade
01:59:41.580 --> 01:59:44.360
"on your side of the table, or in today's case, screen,
01:59:44.360 --> 01:59:47.690
"in forums such as these as a public official.
01:59:47.690 --> 01:59:50.260
"I also hold a graduate degree in public policy,
01:59:50.260 --> 01:59:53.060
"so the process is something I hold very highly.
01:59:53.060 --> 01:59:55.980
"However, in my experience, the vast majority of voices
01:59:55.980 --> 01:59:57.910
"that show up to hearings such as this
01:59:57.910 --> 02:00:00.210
"are actually the minority in opinion.
02:00:00.210 --> 02:00:02.360
"In the case of PG&E's bankruptcy proceedings,
02:00:02.360 --> 02:00:04.430
"I have found this to be true as well.
02:00:04.430 --> 02:00:06.760
"There is actually overwhelming support for the plan
02:00:06.760 --> 02:00:09.130
"for the company's bankruptcy, and for good reason.
02:00:09.130 --> 02:00:11.420
"The plan is not a standalone effort by PG&E,
02:00:11.420 --> 02:00:13.890
"but has been shaped and crafted with the direct input
02:00:13.890 --> 02:00:15.850
"of fire victims, the office of the governor,
02:00:15.850 --> 02:00:17.960
"the CPUC, and numerous other public
02:00:17.960 --> 02:00:20.230
"and private officials and entities.
02:00:20.230 --> 02:00:22.070
"In my experience, I have never witnessed
02:00:22.070 --> 02:00:24.680
"such a collaborative effort for a private entity.
02:00:24.680 --> 02:00:27.430
"We should all be truly proud of what we have created.
02:00:27.430 --> 02:00:29.410
"Together we have seized on the opportunity
02:00:29.410 --> 02:00:31.990
"to create the PG&E that we want and need.
02:00:31.990 --> 02:00:34.420
"The climate is changing and making fire management
02:00:34.420 --> 02:00:37.400
"extremely challenging, and the burden falls on all of us,
02:00:37.400 --> 02:00:39.460
"the citizens and the public and private sectors,
02:00:39.460 --> 02:00:42.400
"to create a sustainable future for ourselves.
02:00:42.400 --> 02:00:44.810
"The calls for creating a publicly owned utility
02:00:44.810 --> 02:00:47.500
"are sadly not feasible or realistic.
02:00:47.500 --> 02:00:50.552
"The cost of liability for the state of California
02:00:50.552 --> 02:00:53.020
"and ultimately its taxpayers, would be astronomical.
02:00:53.020 --> 02:00:55.460
"With the overhaul of PG&E that will result
02:00:55.460 --> 02:00:57.970
"with the approval of its bankruptcy plan,
02:00:57.970 --> 02:01:00.820
"we will have the oversight and input that we all want.
02:01:00.820 --> 02:01:02.570
"Supporting its bankruptcy exit plan
02:01:02.570 --> 02:01:03.980
"is certainly the best option.
02:01:03.980 --> 02:01:06.280
"And though I may be the only voice you hear today
02:01:06.280 --> 02:01:08.310
"that is not an opposition, please remember
02:01:08.310 --> 02:01:09.930
"that the vast majority of the public
02:01:09.930 --> 02:01:11.770
"supports this bankruptcy plan.
02:01:11.770 --> 02:01:13.940
"Thank you again for your sincere consideration
02:01:13.940 --> 02:01:15.654
"and support of this plan."
02:01:15.654 --> 02:01:19.740
The next email is from Mike Bullock: "Dear CPUC,
02:01:19.740 --> 02:01:23.470
"Please design and implement changes to utility
02:01:23.470 --> 02:01:26.380
"to prevent utility caused fires, smoke, and shutoffs.
02:01:26.380 --> 02:01:28.460
"We need strong wildfire safety metrics
02:01:28.460 --> 02:01:30.160
"and robust requirements for utility
02:01:30.160 --> 02:01:32.040
"wildfire mitigation plans.
02:01:32.040 --> 02:01:35.030
"This should obviously include replacing aged power lines
02:01:35.030 --> 02:01:37.050
"and include upgrades to immediately
02:01:37.050 --> 02:01:39.450
"de-energize infrastructure upon failure
02:01:39.450 --> 02:01:41.290
"before it starts a fire.
02:01:41.290 --> 02:01:42.720
"I assume that you are now aware
02:01:42.720 --> 02:01:45.190
"that Berkeley has enacted an ordinance
02:01:45.190 --> 02:01:48.720
"to prohibit NG hookups at all new development.
02:01:48.720 --> 02:01:51.220
"Other municipal governments are doing the same.
02:01:51.220 --> 02:01:53.360
"Lower construction costs, safety, health,
02:01:53.360 --> 02:01:56.910
"the fact that all NG appliances are now inferior
02:01:56.910 --> 02:01:58.600
"to their electric counterparts,
02:01:58.600 --> 02:02:00.780
"and the fact that we are confronting
02:02:00.780 --> 02:02:02.980
"an unbelievably severe climate change crisis,
02:02:02.980 --> 02:02:04.450
"are all good reasons.
02:02:04.450 --> 02:02:06.970
"Please enact the same at the state level.
02:02:06.970 --> 02:02:09.500
"You oversee two competing forms of energy.
02:02:09.500 --> 02:02:11.910
"One clearly needs to be phased out ASAP.
02:02:11.910 --> 02:02:13.110
"Please do that.
02:02:13.110 --> 02:02:17.581
"After all you are the one public utilities free commission.
02:02:17.581 --> 02:02:19.490
"I am sure that you are just as smart
02:02:19.490 --> 02:02:20.780
"as the city of Berkeley.
02:02:20.780 --> 02:02:22.782
"Thank you for your leadership.
02:02:22.782 --> 02:02:25.042
"Highest regards."
02:02:25.042 --> 02:02:28.110
The next email is from Roland Sawhur:
02:02:28.110 --> 02:02:29.020
"Dear Commissioners,
02:02:29.020 --> 02:02:33.470
"I strongly urge you not to allow PG&E to exit bankruptcy.
02:02:33.470 --> 02:02:35.940
"This organization cannot be trusted.
02:02:35.940 --> 02:02:37.860
"It would be much better to have it taken over
02:02:37.860 --> 02:02:40.430
"by the public, modeled after the highly successful
02:02:40.430 --> 02:02:42.720
"public utilities we trust and appreciate,
02:02:42.720 --> 02:02:45.690
"such as the Water Department, Monterey Bay Power,
02:02:45.690 --> 02:02:48.510
"the US Postal Service, and so many others.
02:02:48.510 --> 02:02:50.850
"Particularly in light of the climate crisis,
02:02:50.850 --> 02:02:53.130
"we need a power utility that is not driven
02:02:53.130 --> 02:02:56.660
"by profit maximization, but by service to the populace.
02:02:56.660 --> 02:02:59.590
"We need safety, reliability, and sustainability.
02:02:59.590 --> 02:03:01.990
"We also need protection of the rate payers
02:03:01.990 --> 02:03:03.770
"from the greed of investors.
02:03:03.770 --> 02:03:06.150
"I trust that you will show vision and leadership
02:03:06.150 --> 02:03:08.150
"and the guts to say no to PG&E's plans.
02:03:09.120 --> 02:03:11.170
"Thank you. Respectfully, Roland Sawhur."
02:03:12.220 --> 02:03:14.570
The next email is from Chance Kinney,
02:03:14.570 --> 02:03:16.790
Democratic Socialists of America:
02:03:16.790 --> 02:03:19.320
"To the California Public Utilities Commission,
02:03:19.320 --> 02:03:21.940
"PG&E should not be allowed to exit bankruptcy
02:03:21.940 --> 02:03:23.680
"and ought to be nationalized.
02:03:23.680 --> 02:03:27.780
"Access to energy is a necessity in the 21st century.
02:03:27.780 --> 02:03:29.930
"Without access, citizens find yet
02:03:29.930 --> 02:03:32.660
"more barriers to opportunity and equality
02:03:32.660 --> 02:03:34.580
"when they are at their most vulnerable.
02:03:34.580 --> 02:03:37.450
"A privately run energy company will always fail to serve
02:03:37.450 --> 02:03:40.110
"at least some part of this most vulnerable group,
02:03:40.110 --> 02:03:41.970
"exacerbating the growing disparity
02:03:41.970 --> 02:03:44.820
"in wealth we see in California and in the entire nation.
02:03:45.960 --> 02:03:49.080
"In addition, the private leadership, of PG&E in particular,
02:03:49.080 --> 02:03:51.974
"has consistently shown itself to be untrustworthy,
02:03:51.974 --> 02:03:54.890
"viewing the loss of life and housing in fires
02:03:54.890 --> 02:03:57.630
"as acceptable in lieu of facing the challenges
02:03:57.630 --> 02:04:00.570
"of maintaining their vast energy infrastructure.
02:04:00.570 --> 02:04:02.940
"A daunting task to be sure, but a task
02:04:02.940 --> 02:04:05.320
"they are responsible for nonetheless.
02:04:05.320 --> 02:04:07.600
"If PG&E is allowed to exit bankruptcy,
02:04:07.600 --> 02:04:09.320
"there is virtually no reason to think
02:04:09.320 --> 02:04:11.130
"history will not repeat itself.
02:04:11.130 --> 02:04:12.900
"The same profit motives exist,
02:04:12.900 --> 02:04:15.220
"and the same incentive exists that will ensure
02:04:15.220 --> 02:04:17.740
"that positions of leadership will be filled
02:04:17.740 --> 02:04:21.030
"by those most willing to serve the profit motive.
02:04:21.030 --> 02:04:23.550
"PG&E needs to serve all Californians,
02:04:23.550 --> 02:04:26.120
"and thus must be accountable to all Californians.
02:04:26.120 --> 02:04:27.760
"It must be nationalized.
02:04:27.760 --> 02:04:29.930
"Our state energy should not exist
02:04:29.930 --> 02:04:32.360
"for the benefit of well-monied rent seekers.
02:04:32.360 --> 02:04:35.390
"Please do not allow PG&E to return to business as usual.
02:04:35.390 --> 02:04:37.430
"We all know what that looks like.
02:04:37.430 --> 02:04:39.870
"Give the state the opportunity to run PG&E
02:04:39.870 --> 02:04:42.490
"for the good of all Californians, not just a few.
02:04:42.490 --> 02:04:45.152
"Beth Chance McKinney, Member,
02:04:45.152 --> 02:04:48.400
"Democratic Socialists of America, San Francisco Chapter."
02:04:49.470 --> 02:04:53.810
The next comment is from Jean Viback: "Good morning.
02:04:53.810 --> 02:04:56.310
"I feel PG&E should become a public utility.
02:04:56.310 --> 02:04:59.330
"In 2010, we had the San Bruno pipeline explosion.
02:04:59.330 --> 02:05:00.740
"Eight people were killed.
02:05:00.740 --> 02:05:02.470
"It was found PG&E had collected
02:05:02.470 --> 02:05:04.910
"224 million more than it was authorized
02:05:04.910 --> 02:05:06.580
"to collect in oil and gas revenue
02:05:06.580 --> 02:05:09.210
"in the decade before the explosion.
02:05:09.210 --> 02:05:11.110
"At the same time, it spent millions less
02:05:11.110 --> 02:05:12.750
"than it was supposed to on maintenance,
02:05:12.750 --> 02:05:17.670
"and generally fell short of the safety standards.
02:05:17.670 --> 02:05:20.770
"From June 2014 to December 2017,
02:05:20.770 --> 02:05:24.660
"over 1,500 California fires, including the Paradise fire.
02:05:24.660 --> 02:05:27.840
"PG&E has been prioritizing profits over safety measures
02:05:27.840 --> 02:05:31.260
"for the bottom line, over everything, for decades.
02:05:31.260 --> 02:05:34.050
"I think it's time this company becomes a public utility
02:05:34.050 --> 02:05:35.710
"and safety will be the bottom line.
02:05:35.710 --> 02:05:37.120
"Thank you, Jean Viback."
02:05:38.140 --> 02:05:41.270
The next comment is from Robert Corning,
02:05:41.270 --> 02:05:44.280
from Martinez, California: "To whom it may concern.
02:05:44.280 --> 02:05:46.930
"I'm calling on you to reject this bankruptcy plan
02:05:46.930 --> 02:05:48.250
"and support the establishment
02:05:48.250 --> 02:05:50.760
"of a municipal electric utility in its place.
02:05:51.710 --> 02:05:54.350
"Municipal electric utilities offer better rates,
02:05:54.350 --> 02:05:56.390
"better safety, and will also pave the way
02:05:56.390 --> 02:06:00.130
"to a greener California with less fossil fuel usage.
02:06:00.130 --> 02:06:01.630
"Please do the right thing and resist
02:06:01.630 --> 02:06:03.880
"PG&E's lobbying efforts to do what is right
02:06:03.880 --> 02:06:05.810
"for the rate payers of Northern California.
02:06:05.810 --> 02:06:06.643
"Sincerely."
02:06:07.480 --> 02:06:10.930
The next comment is from G. Colby Allerton:
02:06:10.930 --> 02:06:13.460
"If this plan passes, it will put in motion a process
02:06:13.460 --> 02:06:15.560
"that will shortchange fire survivors,
02:06:15.560 --> 02:06:17.900
"undercut true safety efforts, and keep our health
02:06:17.900 --> 02:06:20.640
"and safety in the hands of Wall Street, not the people.
02:06:20.640 --> 02:06:21.740
"This is on you, CPUC.
02:06:22.699 --> 02:06:24.330
"This is not acceptable.
02:06:24.330 --> 02:06:26.300
"Rate payers do need to be protected
02:06:26.300 --> 02:06:29.120
"and not forced to pay for the failures of PG&E.
02:06:29.120 --> 02:06:31.920
"And Californians need a transformational energy system
02:06:31.920 --> 02:06:34.580
"based on a clean, decentralized energy model.
02:06:34.580 --> 02:06:37.970
"Thank you. G Colby Allerton, Redondo Beach, California."
02:06:38.930 --> 02:06:41.550
The next email is from Jane Doyle:
02:06:41.550 --> 02:06:44.190
"I encourage you to vote no on PG&E's plan.
02:06:44.190 --> 02:06:47.330
"I don't trust the utility to, quote, get it right,
02:06:47.330 --> 02:06:49.650
"if allowed to continue to exist.
02:06:49.650 --> 02:06:52.140
"Human and animal life and the environment are all
02:06:52.140 --> 02:06:54.560
"too special to leave in the hands of a corporation
02:06:54.560 --> 02:06:57.140
"that continually put profits before safety.
02:06:57.140 --> 02:06:59.810
"Sincerely, Jane Doyle, resident of Santa Cruz."
02:07:01.310 --> 02:07:03.387
At this time I'll turn it back
02:07:03.387 --> 02:07:04.830
to Public Advisor Allison Brown.
02:07:07.570 --> 02:07:09.099
Great. Thank you.
02:07:09.099 --> 02:07:11.508
Our next comment is from Serena McNair.
02:07:11.508 --> 02:07:13.292
It reads: "Commissioners.
02:07:13.292 --> 02:07:16.400
"The plan for PG&E to exit bankruptcy is not enough
02:07:16.400 --> 02:07:18.491
"and it will put millions of Californians at risk.
02:07:18.491 --> 02:07:22.460
"You cannot allow PG&E to continue extracting profits
02:07:22.460 --> 02:07:25.390
"at the expense of human lives each fire season,
02:07:25.390 --> 02:07:27.450
"as they cut power to vulnerable communities
02:07:27.450 --> 02:07:29.350
"and cause fires that kill.
02:07:29.350 --> 02:07:33.300
"We can't wait for a corporation to decide its profitable,
02:07:33.300 --> 02:07:36.250
"to switch to a green decentralized energy grid.
02:07:36.250 --> 02:07:38.860
"California can't continue to rely on fossil fuels
02:07:38.860 --> 02:07:42.097
"that contribute to pollution and global warming,
02:07:42.097 --> 02:07:44.900
"and long networks of power lines that are difficult
02:07:44.900 --> 02:07:48.270
"to maintain can wind up causing massive fires.
02:07:48.270 --> 02:07:50.380
"Californians deserve to have rigorous control
02:07:50.380 --> 02:07:52.690
"and oversight of a utility like this.
02:07:52.690 --> 02:07:54.560
"And making PG&E a public utility
02:07:54.560 --> 02:07:56.510
"would give us just that.
02:07:56.510 --> 02:07:59.030
"Please consider making PG&E a public utility.
02:07:59.030 --> 02:08:01.530
"Don't give this poorly managed corporation
02:08:01.530 --> 02:08:03.510
"more opportunities to kill Californians
02:08:03.510 --> 02:08:05.380
"and destroy our environment.
02:08:05.380 --> 02:08:06.630
"We can't afford it.
02:08:06.630 --> 02:08:08.930
"Thank you, Serena McNair, concerned citizen."
02:08:10.030 --> 02:08:12.020
Our next comment is from David McCord.
02:08:13.610 --> 02:08:16.240
"I'm David McCord, and I live in El Cerrito.
02:08:16.240 --> 02:08:19.020
"I'm commenting on PG&E's wildfire mitigation plan,
02:08:19.020 --> 02:08:21.310
"up for consideration June 11th.
02:08:21.310 --> 02:08:23.470
"PG&E must satisfy many conditions
02:08:23.470 --> 02:08:25.330
"in Appendix A of the plan.
02:08:25.330 --> 02:08:27.280
"Among other things, the commission must hold
02:08:27.280 --> 02:08:30.170
"PG&E accountable to break out the details
02:08:30.170 --> 02:08:32.540
"and metrics of its plans and to carry them out
02:08:32.540 --> 02:08:34.430
"sooner rather than later.
02:08:34.430 --> 02:08:37.180
"PG&E must invest in replacing aging power lines
02:08:37.180 --> 02:08:40.640
"with stronger wires and insulation.
02:08:40.640 --> 02:08:43.130
"It must install technology to immediately detect
02:08:43.130 --> 02:08:46.290
"impending faults, and to shut down lines instantaneously
02:08:46.290 --> 02:08:48.550
"when faults occur, before they start a fire.
02:08:49.400 --> 02:08:51.730
"San Diego Gas and Electric is a model.
02:08:51.730 --> 02:08:54.160
PG&E need must follow its example.
02:08:54.160 --> 02:08:56.500
"How well and quickly PG&E carries out its plan
02:08:56.500 --> 02:08:58.930
"depends on the culture within
02:08:58.930 --> 02:09:01.240
"executive and operational management.
02:09:01.240 --> 02:09:04.520
"Going forward, the commission must hold PG&E accountable
02:09:04.520 --> 02:09:06.410
"to ensure the proper culture.
02:09:06.410 --> 02:09:07.243
"Thank you."
02:09:11.110 --> 02:09:13.480
The next comment is from Alice Brown.
02:09:15.730 --> 02:09:17.790
It reads: "To the Commissioners,
02:09:17.790 --> 02:09:19.940
"PG&E's history of incompetence, negligence,
02:09:19.940 --> 02:09:22.550
"deceit, and corruption, leading to the deaths of thousands,
02:09:22.550 --> 02:09:24.840
"if not millions, of Californians,
02:09:24.840 --> 02:09:26.490
"as well as the destruction of millions,
02:09:26.490 --> 02:09:29.980
"if not billions of dollars, worth of our land, homes,
02:09:29.980 --> 02:09:34.050
"infrastructure, and national resources, goes back decades.
02:09:34.050 --> 02:09:36.600
"There's no evidence whatsoever that the institutional
02:09:36.600 --> 02:09:38.350
"and operational culture of the company
02:09:38.350 --> 02:09:39.650
"has dramatically changed.
02:09:40.630 --> 02:09:42.360
"I understand that you already heard
02:09:42.360 --> 02:09:45.380
"copious evidence that the proposed plan for PG&E
02:09:45.380 --> 02:09:47.870
"to exit bankruptcy is utterly inadequate
02:09:47.870 --> 02:09:50.570
"to address its persistent legal failures.
02:09:50.570 --> 02:09:52.660
"There is no valid reason to allow this company
02:09:52.660 --> 02:09:55.600
"to return to gouging the state and its citizens,
02:09:55.600 --> 02:09:58.450
"while continuing to destroy the state's physical assets,
02:09:58.450 --> 02:10:00.950
"murder its people, and ruin its reputation
02:10:00.950 --> 02:10:03.880
"as a place to raise a family and establish a business.
02:10:03.880 --> 02:10:05.370
"It is simply not sustainable,
02:10:05.370 --> 02:10:08.060
"on top of being criminal and deeply unjust.
02:10:08.060 --> 02:10:10.210
"Now, more than ever, with the devastation
02:10:10.210 --> 02:10:12.520
"to the people of California and to the finances
02:10:12.520 --> 02:10:15.350
"of the state due to COVID-19 pandemic,
02:10:15.350 --> 02:10:17.410
"neither the people nor the government of California
02:10:17.410 --> 02:10:20.020
"can continue to pour money and manpower
02:10:20.020 --> 02:10:22.197
"into cleaning up after PG&E.
02:10:22.197 --> 02:10:23.810
"And this bankruptcy plan is so inadequate,
02:10:23.810 --> 02:10:26.420
"it guarantees these problems will continue.
02:10:26.420 --> 02:10:29.040
"I've been a resident of California since 1987.
02:10:29.040 --> 02:10:31.030
"My daughter was born and raised here.
02:10:31.030 --> 02:10:33.370
"When my husband and I moved here, California was a model
02:10:33.370 --> 02:10:35.540
"of good state government in many ways.
02:10:35.540 --> 02:10:39.630
"It can be a beacon to the rest of the country again.
02:10:39.630 --> 02:10:42.760
"We can recover from corrupt privatization
02:10:42.760 --> 02:10:45.190
"that has destroyed so much productivity
02:10:45.190 --> 02:10:48.830
"and so many public and private assets across the state.
02:10:48.830 --> 02:10:50.070
"And once again, become a state
02:10:50.070 --> 02:10:52.270
"people flock to instead of flee.
02:10:52.270 --> 02:10:54.260
"But to do that, PG&E cannot be allowed
02:10:54.260 --> 02:10:56.980
"to exit bankruptcy under this inadequate plan,
02:10:56.980 --> 02:10:58.989
"and once again rampage our state,
02:10:58.989 --> 02:11:03.270
"evading, for example, doing basic maintenance
02:11:03.270 --> 02:11:05.490
"until massive conflagrations destroy
02:11:05.490 --> 02:11:08.810
"lives and property again and again and again.
02:11:08.810 --> 02:11:11.070
"It's time for criminal behavior in the executive suite
02:11:11.070 --> 02:11:14.140
"to face at least the consequences of not being able
02:11:14.140 --> 02:11:16.790
"to continue engaging in criminal behavior.
02:11:16.790 --> 02:11:18.150
"You can say no.
02:11:18.150 --> 02:11:21.180
"You can demand that this valuable enterprise,
02:11:21.180 --> 02:11:23.230
"that is our power grid, be managed
02:11:23.230 --> 02:11:24.700
"in the public's interest.
02:11:24.700 --> 02:11:27.250
"We have seen what allowing the power grid to be managed
02:11:27.250 --> 02:11:29.690
"in the service of profits produces.
02:11:29.690 --> 02:11:31.640
"What's that saying about doing the same thing
02:11:31.640 --> 02:11:34.000
"again and expecting different results?
02:11:34.000 --> 02:11:35.750
"Vote against PG&E's plan.
02:11:35.750 --> 02:11:37.780
"They can either come back with a better plan
02:11:37.780 --> 02:11:39.150
"with better protections for people
02:11:39.150 --> 02:11:40.900
"and government of California
02:11:40.900 --> 02:11:42.600
"or California can return the power grid
02:11:42.600 --> 02:11:45.500
"to being a public utility as it clearly should.
02:11:45.500 --> 02:11:47.800
"All over the world, privatizing these kinds of services
02:11:47.800 --> 02:11:50.420
"has failed, for all but a tiny and rich few.
02:11:50.420 --> 02:11:51.890
"The experiment has failed.
02:11:51.890 --> 02:11:53.380
"The smart choice is in front of you.
02:11:53.380 --> 02:11:54.440
"Please take it.
02:11:54.440 --> 02:11:57.900
"Sincerely, Alice Brown."
02:11:59.690 --> 02:12:03.220
We had a break, I was gonna turn it back over to Michelle.
02:12:03.220 --> 02:12:04.320
Do we want to do that?
02:12:05.310 --> 02:12:06.143
President Batjer?
02:12:06.143 --> 02:12:08.300
We're not taking a break right now.
02:12:08.300 --> 02:12:09.510
You can certainly I--
02:12:09.510 --> 02:12:11.320
Okay, perfect.
02:12:11.320 --> 02:12:12.940
So then I will turn it back to Michelle
02:12:12.940 --> 02:12:14.660
for the next few comments.
02:12:14.660 --> 02:12:16.420
Okay. Sounds good. Thank you.
02:12:19.150 --> 02:12:22.944
The next email is from Caroline Trupti-Israel.
02:12:22.944 --> 02:12:27.460
"Why do billionaire killers remain outside of prison
02:12:27.460 --> 02:12:30.500
"and single person killers spend lifetimes in prison?
02:12:30.500 --> 02:12:32.725
"Certain community projects should never be for-profit,
02:12:32.725 --> 02:12:35.610
"like energy, healthcare, and education.
02:12:35.610 --> 02:12:38.120
"We are seeing in real-time how the profit motive
02:12:38.120 --> 02:12:39.770
"cannot produce safety.
02:12:39.770 --> 02:12:41.870
"Our profit oriented nation is suffering
02:12:41.870 --> 02:12:44.490
"the highest pandemic death tally in the world.
02:12:44.490 --> 02:12:46.590
"Even a simple thing like producing equipment
02:12:46.590 --> 02:12:48.580
"cannot happen until someone comes forward
02:12:48.580 --> 02:12:50.910
"with a plan to make a killing on it.
02:12:50.910 --> 02:12:52.980
"Without that, it simply does not happen,
02:12:52.980 --> 02:12:55.730
"no matter how important it is to the nation's people."
02:12:57.010 --> 02:12:59.850
The next email is from Paul Sherman: "Dear CPUC,
02:13:00.884 --> 02:13:04.740
"On the afternoon of October 17th, 1989,
02:13:04.740 --> 02:13:08.130
"my mom phoned and left a message on my answering machine.
02:13:08.130 --> 02:13:11.140
"Noticeably shaken and startled, she spoke with pride
02:13:11.140 --> 02:13:13.480
"and amazement how during one of the biggest earthquakes
02:13:13.480 --> 02:13:15.860
"of the century, the PG&E man still prevailed
02:13:15.860 --> 02:13:17.990
"in their scheduled appointment to relight
02:13:17.990 --> 02:13:20.950
"the furnace pilot for the onset of winter.
02:13:20.950 --> 02:13:23.920
"This memory might just be one of the best justifications
02:13:23.920 --> 02:13:26.810
"for PG&E being allowed to exit from bankruptcy
02:13:26.810 --> 02:13:28.700
"and get back to doing the exemplary work
02:13:28.700 --> 02:13:31.910
"that they do in the face of countless trials and pitfalls.
02:13:31.910 --> 02:13:34.920
"It reminds me of the motto of the US Postal Service,
02:13:34.920 --> 02:13:37.690
"'Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night
02:13:37.690 --> 02:13:40.030
"'stays these couriers from swift completion
02:13:40.030 --> 02:13:42.090
"'of their appointed rounds.'
02:13:42.090 --> 02:13:43.980
"Not allowing an exit from bankruptcy
02:13:43.980 --> 02:13:48.220
"sets a dangerous precedent of priority excusal.
02:13:48.220 --> 02:13:51.980
"We all need to be prepared and individually accountable
02:13:51.980 --> 02:13:53.950
"for our actions or lack thereof.
02:13:53.950 --> 02:13:56.590
"For example, if you want to make your home on a hillside
02:13:56.590 --> 02:13:59.360
"in the middle of stick foliage and do not put in
02:13:59.360 --> 02:14:02.330
"a hard effort with the priority and preserve to care for
02:14:02.330 --> 02:14:05.060
"and maintain that hillside, because it's your property
02:14:05.060 --> 02:14:07.330
"that you paid for, then shame on you.
02:14:07.330 --> 02:14:09.630
"Another example, if a town wishes to build
02:14:09.630 --> 02:14:12.500
"high density in a wild area and provides permits
02:14:12.500 --> 02:14:14.930
"without ample clear space between properties,
02:14:14.930 --> 02:14:16.340
"then shame on them.
02:14:16.340 --> 02:14:18.830
"For three decades as a loyal PG&E customer,
02:14:18.830 --> 02:14:22.090
"I only have observed only the very best
02:14:22.090 --> 02:14:23.780
"professional punctual service.
02:14:23.780 --> 02:14:26.280
"My individual disaggregated utility bills
02:14:26.280 --> 02:14:27.780
"have always been mailed on time,
02:14:27.780 --> 02:14:31.180
"without fail, and with hardly any increase at all.
02:14:31.180 --> 02:14:33.610
"Therefore, please put me down for full support
02:14:33.610 --> 02:14:36.490
"of swift and timely exit from bankruptcy proceedings
02:14:36.490 --> 02:14:39.130
"with no further punitive actions or judgments.
02:14:39.130 --> 02:14:41.680
"Kindly, Paul Sherman, San Jose, California."
02:14:43.590 --> 02:14:47.920
John Douglas sent in this email and also commented by phone:
02:14:47.920 --> 02:14:49.910
"California Public Utilities Commission,
02:14:49.910 --> 02:14:52.710
"I urge you to reject PG&E's bankruptcy plan,
02:14:52.710 --> 02:14:56.060
"and I urge you to instead recommend to Governor Newsome
02:14:56.060 --> 02:14:59.070
"that the state force the sale of all PG&E assets
02:14:59.070 --> 02:15:00.890
"to the state and convert the utility
02:15:00.890 --> 02:15:03.180
"into a public state run utility,
02:15:03.180 --> 02:15:06.584
"subject to the will and needs of rate payers and taxpayers.
02:15:06.584 --> 02:15:08.900
"Thanks for considering my views.
02:15:08.900 --> 02:15:10.630
"John E. Douglas."
02:15:10.630 --> 02:15:13.430
At this time, I'll turn it back to Public Advisor Brown.
02:15:15.800 --> 02:15:17.040
Thank you.
02:15:17.040 --> 02:15:19.840
The next comment is from Aiden Keener.
02:15:19.840 --> 02:15:21.360
"Hello, my name is Aiden Keener.
02:15:21.360 --> 02:15:24.430
"I'm an 18 year old resident of San Mateo, California
02:15:24.430 --> 02:15:28.120
"and a member of the Peninsula Democratic Socialists.
02:15:28.960 --> 02:15:30.920
"The recent fires that have ravished our state
02:15:30.920 --> 02:15:33.280
"due to the negligence and corner-cutting,
02:15:33.280 --> 02:15:37.040
"driven by the greed of PG&E, matter a great deal to me.
02:15:37.040 --> 02:15:38.890
"I am an asthmatic, and I'm at high risk
02:15:38.890 --> 02:15:40.730
"during periods of heavy pollution
02:15:40.730 --> 02:15:43.960
"as the fires destroys towns across the state.
02:15:43.960 --> 02:15:45.590
"The only solution to the constant
02:15:45.590 --> 02:15:47.580
"manmade fires we are seeing,
02:15:47.580 --> 02:15:50.150
"is to remove profit-seeking from the equation.
02:15:50.150 --> 02:15:52.670
"PG&E must not be allowed to exit bankruptcy,
02:15:52.670 --> 02:15:54.780
"and instead it must become a public utility
02:15:54.780 --> 02:15:56.640
"with popular oversight.
02:15:56.640 --> 02:15:58.960
"Only through a generously funded,
02:15:58.960 --> 02:16:01.820
"democratically operated state utility company
02:16:01.820 --> 02:16:04.620
"can Californians, especially those of our working class
02:16:07.492 --> 02:16:10.390
"from vicious blazes and random power shutoffs.
02:16:11.260 --> 02:16:13.210
"This model has been done successfully in Nebraska,
02:16:13.210 --> 02:16:15.680
"as well as countries across the world.
02:16:15.680 --> 02:16:17.820
"I ask only that you stand on the side of workers,
02:16:17.820 --> 02:16:19.800
"the environment, and progress.
02:16:19.800 --> 02:16:24.750
"Please vote to keep PG&E in bankruptcy
02:16:24.750 --> 02:16:26.350
"and turn our power over to the people.
02:16:26.350 --> 02:16:27.650
"Thank you, Aiden Keener."
02:16:28.820 --> 02:16:31.740
The next comment is from Pamela Shulgan.
02:16:31.740 --> 02:16:33.610
"Dear Commissioners,
02:16:33.610 --> 02:16:35.520
"Last week, politically motivated speakers
02:16:35.520 --> 02:16:36.910
"took it upon themselves to speak
02:16:36.910 --> 02:16:38.840
"on behalf of wildfire victims.
02:16:38.840 --> 02:16:41.190
"I'd like to provide a different point of view.
02:16:42.080 --> 02:16:44.610
"Victims can speak for themselves, and have overwhelmingly
02:16:44.610 --> 02:16:47.220
"voted in favor of the reorganization plan.
02:16:47.220 --> 02:16:49.020
"They just understand that a perfect solution
02:16:49.020 --> 02:16:51.320
"isn't possible, and that's life,
02:16:51.320 --> 02:16:53.820
"but rather demand a solution that is fair, equitable,
02:16:53.820 --> 02:16:56.670
"and timely, so we can all get on with our lives.
02:16:56.670 --> 02:16:58.150
"The longer this drags on,
02:16:58.150 --> 02:17:00.450
"the less likely a fair outcome will be.
02:17:00.450 --> 02:17:02.680
"You all have a weighty responsibility,
02:17:02.680 --> 02:17:04.770
"and I imagine you don't take it lightly.
02:17:04.770 --> 02:17:07.680
"Please vote in favor of the plan so this chapter can end,
02:17:07.680 --> 02:17:09.860
"and victims can take the next step in healing.
02:17:09.860 --> 02:17:10.830
"Thank you for your time.
02:17:10.830 --> 02:17:12.390
"Sincerely, Pamela Shulgan."
02:17:13.750 --> 02:17:16.330
The next comment is from Carol Drake.
02:17:16.330 --> 02:17:18.720
"Hello, California Public Utilities Commission.
02:17:18.720 --> 02:17:21.690
"I am in favor of PG&E becoming a public utility.
02:17:21.690 --> 02:17:23.150
"I do not think that PG&E should be
02:17:23.150 --> 02:17:25.030
"allowed to exit bankruptcy.
02:17:25.030 --> 02:17:27.710
"PG&E has put profit over people's lives.
02:17:27.710 --> 02:17:31.010
"It would be better if PG&E be bought by the state,
02:17:31.010 --> 02:17:32.550
"becoming a public utility.
02:17:32.550 --> 02:17:33.800
"Thank you, Carol Drake."
02:17:35.340 --> 02:17:37.420
The next comment is from Al Weinrub.
02:17:38.300 --> 02:17:40.420
"My name is Al Weinrub, and I'm a coordinator
02:17:40.420 --> 02:17:43.490
"of the California Alliance for Community Energy.
02:17:43.490 --> 02:17:45.660
"The Alliance is a statewide organization
02:17:45.660 --> 02:17:46.990
"advocating for the development
02:17:46.990 --> 02:17:49.367
"of local, renewable energy resources,
02:17:49.367 --> 02:17:53.300
"local generation, storage, demand reduction, and so forth,
02:17:53.300 --> 02:17:55.370
"controlled by our local communities.
02:17:55.370 --> 02:17:56.910
"This has taken the form of a growing
02:17:56.910 --> 02:17:58.990
"Community Choice energy movement,
02:17:58.990 --> 02:18:01.580
"which now numbers 21 Community Choice agencies
02:18:01.580 --> 02:18:05.067
"in California, serving over 11 million customers,
02:18:05.067 --> 02:18:05.930
"and which is already serving
02:18:05.930 --> 02:18:10.930
"more than 50% of PG&E's former electricity load.
02:18:16.601 --> 02:18:17.827
"The growth in this local, public energy service providers
02:18:20.580 --> 02:18:23.290
"is testimony to the failure of the monopoly utilities
02:18:23.290 --> 02:18:26.390
"like PG&E to meet our communities' needs.
02:18:26.390 --> 02:18:30.370
"Utility caused wildfires, power shutoffs, gross negligence,
02:18:30.370 --> 02:18:33.350
"and priorities that put us all at great human risk,
02:18:33.350 --> 02:18:35.930
"especially in light of this pandemic, all in order
02:18:35.930 --> 02:18:39.230
"to guarantee PG&E shareholder and Wall Street profits.
02:18:39.230 --> 02:18:41.243
"I know you already know this.
02:18:41.243 --> 02:18:44.950
"Yet you are ready to rubber stamp a bankruptcy plan
02:18:44.950 --> 02:18:48.390
"that itself is bankrupt of any value to our communities,
02:18:48.390 --> 02:18:50.560
"does nothing to address the criminal abuse of power
02:18:50.560 --> 02:18:53.030
"exercised by PG&E, and in fact,
02:18:53.030 --> 02:18:54.860
"puts us all at greater risk.
02:18:54.860 --> 02:18:56.450
"It is a violation of public trust
02:18:56.450 --> 02:18:59.070
"for the CPUC in the interest of Wall Street
02:18:59.070 --> 02:19:01.280
to rubber stamp an even more monstrous
02:19:01.280 --> 02:19:04.360
"reincarnation of PG&E, a bankruptcy exit plan
02:19:04.360 --> 02:19:06.520
"designed by the monster itself,
02:19:06.520 --> 02:19:09.280
"one that bills wildfire survivors,
02:19:09.280 --> 02:19:11.910
"bails out PG&E at rate payer expense,
02:19:11.910 --> 02:19:14.590
"and puts our lives at increased jeopardy.
02:19:14.590 --> 02:19:16.720
"Former CPUC President Michael Pecker
02:19:16.720 --> 02:19:18.830
"publicly stated that the role of the CPUC
02:19:18.830 --> 02:19:21.740
"is to protect the monopoly utilities.
02:19:21.740 --> 02:19:23.720
"This is your opportunity to do otherwise,
02:19:23.720 --> 02:19:26.330
"to demonstrate that the initials C-P-U-C
02:19:26.330 --> 02:19:30.333
"do not stand California Private Utility company."
02:19:30.333 --> 02:19:32.383
I will now turn it back over to Michelle.
02:19:35.080 --> 02:19:38.160
The next email is from Sara Lamnin,
02:19:38.160 --> 02:19:40.020
Hayward City Council Member.
02:19:40.020 --> 02:19:42.844
"Hello, thank you for your careful consideration.
02:19:42.844 --> 02:19:45.030
"While I appreciate the amount of work
02:19:45.030 --> 02:19:46.960
"that has gone into the proposal before you,
02:19:46.960 --> 02:19:50.270
"it is time to look beyond what is currently established.
02:19:50.270 --> 02:19:51.800
"Please reject the proposal.
02:19:51.800 --> 02:19:55.030
"Let the current conditions extend for one more year.
02:19:55.030 --> 02:19:57.070
"Evaluate the public options proposed
02:19:57.070 --> 02:19:59.200
"by Mayor Sam Liccardo and others,
02:19:59.200 --> 02:20:01.090
"and move forward with a transition plan
02:20:01.090 --> 02:20:03.920
"to have public utility, owned by the public.
02:20:03.920 --> 02:20:05.090
"It is possible.
02:20:05.090 --> 02:20:08.560
"Thank you. Sara Lamnin, Hayward City Council Member."
02:20:08.560 --> 02:20:11.020
The next email is from Steven Lewis.
02:20:11.020 --> 02:20:13.120
"PG&E is an insidious company,
02:20:13.120 --> 02:20:15.320
"one responsible for both insane greed
02:20:15.320 --> 02:20:17.920
"and literal damage to our state of California.
02:20:17.920 --> 02:20:20.450
"To prevent further fires and deeper injustice,
02:20:20.450 --> 02:20:23.260
"please do not let PG&E out of bankruptcy.
02:20:23.260 --> 02:20:24.860
"Their plan should not be approved
02:20:24.860 --> 02:20:27.170
"and these matters of earth, energy, and climate,
02:20:27.170 --> 02:20:29.520
"should belong to the people and the state.
02:20:29.520 --> 02:20:30.353
"Thank you."
02:20:31.890 --> 02:20:35.230
The next email is from Maureen Malizuski.
02:20:35.230 --> 02:20:37.720
"Making the electric service a public utility
02:20:37.720 --> 02:20:39.330
"will be sustainable, safer,
02:20:39.330 --> 02:20:40.800
"and better for the environment.
02:20:40.800 --> 02:20:41.910
"With a public utility,
02:20:41.910 --> 02:20:44.931
"we take the profit motive out of the equation."
02:20:44.931 --> 02:20:47.600
The next email is from Tyler Brysocker,
02:20:49.060 --> 02:20:52.990
"Whatever the CPUC can do to move us in the direction
02:20:52.990 --> 02:20:55.310
"of public utilities, please do it.
02:20:55.310 --> 02:20:56.500
"No one should be profiting
02:20:56.500 --> 02:20:58.340
"from everyone's need for electricity,
02:20:58.340 --> 02:21:00.340
"and certainly not from the many harmful
02:21:00.340 --> 02:21:02.750
"and even deadly actions of PG&E.
02:21:02.750 --> 02:21:03.583
"Thank you."
02:21:04.870 --> 02:21:08.091
The next email is from Ronald Martin.
02:21:08.091 --> 02:21:10.860
"There may be no fair way to structure
02:21:10.860 --> 02:21:13.580
"a bankruptcy for PG&E with the huge damages
02:21:13.580 --> 02:21:16.350
"that resulted from its use of outdated equipment.
02:21:16.350 --> 02:21:18.260
"This is the time to replace PG&E
02:21:18.260 --> 02:21:21.750
"with an organization governed by customers and employees.
02:21:21.750 --> 02:21:23.620
"Its board should include these stakeholders
02:21:23.620 --> 02:21:26.150
"and state representative, and without stockholders,
02:21:26.150 --> 02:21:29.850
"will need no representation of financial institutions.
02:21:29.850 --> 02:21:32.920
"Since rate payers ultimately pay for PG&E's mistakes,
02:21:32.920 --> 02:21:34.780
"they should take control of the organization
02:21:34.780 --> 02:21:35.890
"that supplies our power,
02:21:35.890 --> 02:21:38.210
with the safe management that we choose.
02:21:38.210 --> 02:21:40.300
"Such an organization would be more open
02:21:40.300 --> 02:21:43.910
"to connecting community choice aggregation to its grid,
02:21:43.910 --> 02:21:45.820
"thus preventing power using communities
02:21:45.820 --> 02:21:48.620
"to choose sustainable sources of energy for their area.
02:21:49.520 --> 02:21:51.670
"If a new stakeholder governed organization
02:21:51.670 --> 02:21:53.970
"is not established, at least there should be
02:21:53.970 --> 02:21:55.880
"someone reporting to the legislature
02:21:55.880 --> 02:21:57.990
"to supervise PG&E's operations,
02:21:57.990 --> 02:22:00.300
"to see that they are safe and reliable,
02:22:00.300 --> 02:22:02.530
"that electric rates are close to costs,
02:22:02.530 --> 02:22:05.120
"their rates are within the incomes of rate payers,
02:22:05.120 --> 02:22:06.770
"that rate increases are close
02:22:06.770 --> 02:22:08.610
"to the general rate of inflation,
02:22:08.610 --> 02:22:10.270
"that the executive compensation
02:22:10.270 --> 02:22:11.970
"is in line with the work they do,
02:22:11.970 --> 02:22:14.640
"and what ordinary citizens are paid,
02:22:14.640 --> 02:22:17.280
"and that transition to electric power that is
02:22:17.280 --> 02:22:20.689
"carbon neutral is accomplished as quickly as possible."
02:22:20.689 --> 02:22:23.460
The next email is from Charlotte Quinn,
02:22:23.460 --> 02:22:25.220
who also commented on a phone.
02:22:25.220 --> 02:22:26.190
"Dear Commissioners,
02:22:26.190 --> 02:22:28.640
"It is clear that PG&E's reorganization plan
02:22:28.640 --> 02:22:30.030
"will not work for rate payers,
02:22:30.030 --> 02:22:32.650
"fire survivors, communities, or the climate.
02:22:32.650 --> 02:22:36.290
"It is in your power, and it is certainly your duty,
02:22:36.290 --> 02:22:38.417
"to build an energy system that
02:22:38.417 --> 02:22:42.130
"all works for communities and the climate.
02:22:42.130 --> 02:22:43.860
"We need a public utility.
02:22:43.860 --> 02:22:46.070
"The existing and proposed for-profit model
02:22:46.070 --> 02:22:47.960
"is the cause of fires and explosions,
02:22:47.960 --> 02:22:52.180
"death and destruction, and old unsafe infrastructure.
02:22:52.180 --> 02:22:54.970
"The for-profit model is why we are wasting precious time
02:22:54.970 --> 02:22:57.020
"transitioning to clean, renewable energy,
02:22:57.020 --> 02:23:00.520
"so desperately needed to reduce climate catastrophes.
02:23:00.520 --> 02:23:02.490
"Please reject any plan that keeps PG&E
02:23:02.490 --> 02:23:04.540
"as a for-profit utility.
02:23:04.540 --> 02:23:06.630
"Until the profit motive is removed,
02:23:06.630 --> 02:23:09.260
"the energy grid will remain unsafe for communities,
02:23:09.260 --> 02:23:13.020
"just as it has been fatally proven over and over again.
02:23:13.020 --> 02:23:15.070
"Reject the for-profit utility model
02:23:15.070 --> 02:23:17.610
"and require that PG&E become a public utility.
02:23:17.610 --> 02:23:19.850
"We desperately need a public utility
02:23:19.850 --> 02:23:22.330
"that prioritizes clean, renewable energy,
02:23:22.330 --> 02:23:24.190
"that implements decentralized production,
02:23:24.190 --> 02:23:27.850
"and that has strong, independent democratic oversight.
02:23:27.850 --> 02:23:30.220
"Please make PG&E a public utility.
02:23:30.220 --> 02:23:33.320
"Please do not allow it to remain a for-profit entity,
02:23:33.320 --> 02:23:37.170
"which will only perpetrate destruction and failure.
02:23:37.170 --> 02:23:39.330
"Thank you, Charlotte Quinn."
02:23:39.330 --> 02:23:43.200
The next email is from Nicole Dessai.
02:23:43.200 --> 02:23:44.710
"Dear Commissioners,
02:23:44.710 --> 02:23:47.540
"The profit-seeking approach taken by PG&E
02:23:47.540 --> 02:23:49.560
"in the last decade has led to neglect
02:23:49.560 --> 02:23:51.880
"of crucial infrastructure, which has caused the loss
02:23:51.880 --> 02:23:55.300
"of many lives and millions of dollars in property damage.
02:23:55.300 --> 02:23:58.180
"It is unconscionable that the state would allow PG&E
02:23:58.180 --> 02:24:00.450
"to declare bankruptcy without instituting
02:24:00.450 --> 02:24:02.950
"meaningful reforms that move our state back
02:24:02.950 --> 02:24:05.760
"to public ownership of power provision.
02:24:05.760 --> 02:24:07.540
"Our state once led the way in creating
02:24:07.540 --> 02:24:09.330
"government-run, efficient utilities
02:24:09.330 --> 02:24:12.040
"that provided power for everyone for cheap.
02:24:12.040 --> 02:24:13.580
"Please dismiss this proposal
02:24:13.580 --> 02:24:16.350
"and instead consider the request of many California Mayors
02:24:16.350 --> 02:24:19.210
"who want the utility to be taken into public ownership.
02:24:19.210 --> 02:24:20.700
"Regards, Nicole Dessai."
02:24:23.600 --> 02:24:26.680
The next email is from Kevin Mah,
02:24:27.680 --> 02:24:32.680
who wrote on 5/21 the same email.
02:24:35.100 --> 02:24:36.100
"Dear Commissioners,
02:24:37.110 --> 02:24:39.070
"PG&E has had a history of failures
02:24:39.070 --> 02:24:41.330
"to invest in the safety of its infrastructure,
02:24:41.330 --> 02:24:43.730
"leading to wildfires that have burned down cities
02:24:43.730 --> 02:24:45.350
"and a pipeline explosion that killed
02:24:45.350 --> 02:24:47.321
"one of your staff members.
02:24:47.321 --> 02:24:50.365
"And there is current news that the bankruptcy case
02:24:50.365 --> 02:24:51.490
"may be tainted by a conflict of interest
02:24:51.490 --> 02:24:53.160
"that underscores the danger of letting
02:24:53.160 --> 02:24:55.520
"the utility fall under the whims of the market,
02:24:55.520 --> 02:24:58.120
"rather than directly accountable to the people,
02:24:58.120 --> 02:25:00.859
"as well as the mixed victim voting process.
02:25:00.859 --> 02:25:03.110
"In the meantime, PG&E has had the guts
02:25:03.110 --> 02:25:05.370
"to fund lobbying efforts to protect itself,
02:25:05.370 --> 02:25:09.360
"despite its finances, and the proposed bankruptcy plan's
02:25:10.643 --> 02:25:13.950
"use of PG&E stock for compensation
02:25:13.950 --> 02:25:16.490
"creates a perverse chilling effect for the victims,
02:25:16.490 --> 02:25:18.890
"where any criticism could hurt relief efforts,
02:25:18.890 --> 02:25:22.340
"especially compounded by our fragile economic climate.
02:25:22.340 --> 02:25:24.420
"And PG&E is also trying to weasel out
02:25:24.420 --> 02:25:28.090
"of the San Bruno compensation plan today in agenda item 10.
02:25:29.020 --> 02:25:31.470
"Despite the AB 1054 deadlines,
02:25:31.470 --> 02:25:34.040
"the commission should not speed up proceedings.
02:25:34.040 --> 02:25:37.810
"Being too hasty may lead to future neglect and harm.
02:25:37.810 --> 02:25:39.520
"The commission should ask for more stringent
02:25:39.520 --> 02:25:42.710
"reform efforts, such as greater independent powers
02:25:42.710 --> 02:25:45.200
"to the third party monitors, chief restructuring officer,
02:25:45.200 --> 02:25:47.580
"or any accountable authority.
02:25:47.580 --> 02:25:50.430
"The commission should also compel PG&E
02:25:50.430 --> 02:25:53.890
"to devolve its powers to local elected bodies,
02:25:53.890 --> 02:25:57.420
"as has been asked from San Francisco and San Jose.
02:25:57.420 --> 02:26:00.220
"Or, given that it's already in bankruptcy proceedings,
02:26:00.220 --> 02:26:03.350
"PG&E should be taken completely away from the market
02:26:03.350 --> 02:26:07.210
"and become a nonprofit or governmental entity.
02:26:07.210 --> 02:26:09.800
"Until then, I ask you to reject the plan
02:26:09.800 --> 02:26:11.370
"as it currently stands.
02:26:11.370 --> 02:26:12.520
"Sincerely, Kevin Mah."
02:26:15.507 --> 02:26:18.408
The next email is from Madeline Klein,
02:26:18.408 --> 02:26:21.140
which we believe also is a duplicate from last week.
02:26:21.140 --> 02:26:21.973
"Commissioners,
02:26:21.973 --> 02:26:24.640
"It's time for you to stand up for the people of California
02:26:24.640 --> 02:26:27.840
"and vote no on PG&E's reorganization plan.
02:26:28.920 --> 02:26:31.470
"PG&E does not deserve another chance.
02:26:31.470 --> 02:26:33.240
"The state of California needs to step in
02:26:33.240 --> 02:26:36.170
"and take over PG&E on the way to establishing
02:26:36.170 --> 02:26:38.840
"a worker, community owned public utility.
02:26:38.840 --> 02:26:41.520
"PG&E is only interested in making a profit,
02:26:41.520 --> 02:26:44.030
"and not providing safe and affordable energy
02:26:44.030 --> 02:26:45.420
"to its customers.
02:26:45.420 --> 02:26:47.480
"This can be shown by the a hundred plus deaths
02:26:47.480 --> 02:26:49.390
"that PG&E's negligence has caused
02:26:49.390 --> 02:26:51.080
"over the past three years.
02:26:51.080 --> 02:26:54.360
"A state audit proved that they diverted $100 million
02:26:54.360 --> 02:26:57.020
"that was intended for safety maintenance and upgrades,
02:26:57.020 --> 02:27:00.380
"to instead use for bonuses for executives.
02:27:00.380 --> 02:27:01.500
"This is criminal.
02:27:01.500 --> 02:27:03.670
"PG&E is a convicted felon.
02:27:03.670 --> 02:27:05.520
"Now is the time to make a bold move
02:27:05.520 --> 02:27:07.935
"in favor of California's energy consumers.
02:27:07.935 --> 02:27:10.170
"Energy is a natural resource that should be
02:27:10.170 --> 02:27:14.000
"readily available to all, with no fear of loss of life,
02:27:14.000 --> 02:27:18.010
"or having to pay to clean up someone's negligence.
02:27:18.010 --> 02:27:21.360
"Vote no on PG&E's bankruptcy reorganization plan
02:27:21.360 --> 02:27:23.930
"and take the right step to provide the people of California
02:27:23.930 --> 02:27:27.480
"with a safer, more accessible, publicly run utility.
02:27:27.480 --> 02:27:29.560
"Madeline Klein, Santa Cruz, California."
02:27:30.400 --> 02:27:33.090
At this time, I'll turn it back to Public Advisor Brown.
02:27:34.760 --> 02:27:35.820
Thank you, Michelle.
02:27:35.820 --> 02:27:38.180
So that concludes the email comments
02:27:38.180 --> 02:27:40.493
that we've received before 10 o'clock today.
02:27:40.493 --> 02:27:42.720
Anything that we received afterwards,
02:27:42.720 --> 02:27:45.542
I will send over to the commissioners,
02:27:45.542 --> 02:27:48.360
as well as anything that we received
02:27:48.360 --> 02:27:51.160
after 10 o'clock for prior meetings.
02:27:51.160 --> 02:27:52.750
Thank you.
02:27:52.750 --> 02:27:55.730
I want to especially thank Public Advisor Brown,
02:27:55.730 --> 02:27:59.550
and ALJ Cook, for reading the emails to us.
02:27:59.550 --> 02:28:02.110
Thank you so very much, I appreciate that.
02:28:02.110 --> 02:28:05.900
And we will look forward to the distribution of any emails
02:28:05.900 --> 02:28:08.410
that came after the 10 o'clock hour.
02:28:08.410 --> 02:28:10.740
Thank you, both of you.
02:28:10.740 --> 02:28:13.800
Operator, is there anyone else on the line
02:28:13.800 --> 02:28:15.450
who wishes to speak at this time?
02:28:17.240 --> 02:28:18.566
Yes, President Batjer,
02:28:18.566 --> 02:28:21.390
our next caller is Jessica Tovar,
02:28:21.390 --> 02:28:22.960
East Bay Clean Power Alliance.
02:28:24.380 --> 02:28:26.040
You may go ahead.
02:28:26.040 --> 02:28:27.590
I want to remind the callers
02:28:27.590 --> 02:28:30.970
that you have one and a half minutes to speak,
02:28:30.970 --> 02:28:33.270
just as the other callers had earlier.
02:28:33.270 --> 02:28:34.103
Thank you.
02:28:35.280 --> 02:28:36.650
Thank you, Commissioners.
02:28:36.650 --> 02:28:41.650
Yes, I want to urge you to reject this bad PG&E plan
02:28:42.650 --> 02:28:45.690
because it really does not compensate
02:28:45.690 --> 02:28:48.450
the survivors of the wildfires.
02:28:48.450 --> 02:28:53.450
In addition, I really urge you to focus on prevention
02:28:53.730 --> 02:28:58.730
of further wildfires, and also the planned power shutoffs.
02:29:00.140 --> 02:29:03.040
We are in the midst of a global pandemic.
02:29:03.040 --> 02:29:06.597
We know that the situation with COVID-19
02:29:06.597 --> 02:29:08.770
will potentially get worse.
02:29:10.120 --> 02:29:14.470
We've already seen that our health care providers
02:29:14.470 --> 02:29:19.200
do not have the N-95 masks and the other things
02:29:19.200 --> 02:29:21.400
that they need to treat us,
02:29:21.400 --> 02:29:25.034
much less do we, who have to evade the smoke
02:29:25.034 --> 02:29:28.440
and the folks that need to evade the fires
02:29:28.440 --> 02:29:32.220
in order to get to safety.
02:29:32.220 --> 02:29:35.570
So we really urge you to reject this plan
02:29:35.570 --> 02:29:39.950
and actually prevent further deaths and destruction
02:29:39.950 --> 02:29:43.120
that has been caused by PG&E.
02:29:43.120 --> 02:29:44.440
We know better.
02:29:44.440 --> 02:29:46.590
And the people have spoken already
02:29:46.590 --> 02:29:49.990
that this deal is bad for California.
02:29:49.990 --> 02:29:54.050
We need you to make the best decision
02:29:54.050 --> 02:29:58.760
that actually focuses on safety,
02:29:58.760 --> 02:30:01.550
both for the workers and the community.
02:30:01.550 --> 02:30:02.700
Thank you very much.
02:30:04.560 --> 02:30:07.300
Thank you, operator one more caller, I believe?
02:30:08.860 --> 02:30:09.693
And President Batjer,
02:30:09.693 --> 02:30:11.740
we have no additional callers at this time.
02:30:13.290 --> 02:30:15.390
Oh, okay. Thank you.
02:30:15.390 --> 02:30:19.933
Well, thank you, operator. Appreciate that.
02:30:19.933 --> 02:30:24.933
That will end the public comment period for today.
02:30:26.650 --> 02:30:31.650
And we will take a brief 30 minute break,
02:30:31.666 --> 02:30:36.000
and we will resume at 1:00 PM.
02:30:37.190 --> 02:30:39.970
Thank you all. That's the end of the public comment.
02:31:31.000 --> 02:31:34.167
(gentle upbeat music)
02:31:44.901 --> 02:31:48.318
(upbeat music continues)
02:32:18.139 --> 02:32:21.556
(upbeat music continues)
02:34:04.078 --> 02:34:06.010
Take us off hold.
02:34:06.010 --> 02:34:07.433
Okay.
02:34:07.433 --> 02:34:08.958
President Batjer?
02:34:08.958 --> 02:34:09.791
Yes?
02:34:09.791 --> 02:34:11.274
There was (speaking faintly).
02:34:11.274 --> 02:34:14.171
Okay, thank you very much, Robert.
02:34:14.171 --> 02:34:17.760
So, we are back in session.
02:34:17.760 --> 02:34:19.940
We need to establish a quorum.
02:34:20.820 --> 02:34:22.570
Could we please have the roll call.
02:34:23.748 --> 02:34:27.331
(Clerk's voice distorting)
02:34:29.290 --> 02:34:30.247
Present.
02:34:30.247 --> 02:34:31.080
Sorry, we can't hear you.
02:34:31.080 --> 02:34:33.830
You're gonna have to speak into your mic a little closer.
02:34:34.800 --> 02:34:36.102
Present.
02:34:36.102 --> 02:34:36.990
Guzman Aceves?
02:34:36.990 --> 02:34:38.110
Present.
02:34:38.110 --> 02:34:40.470
Commissioner Randolph?
02:34:40.470 --> 02:34:41.390
Present.
02:34:41.390 --> 02:34:43.360
Commissioner Rechtschaffen?
02:34:43.360 --> 02:34:44.470
Present.
02:34:44.470 --> 02:34:46.530
President Batjer?
02:34:46.530 --> 02:34:47.363
Present.
02:34:51.360 --> 02:34:53.620
Did you call Commissioner Shiroma?
02:34:54.940 --> 02:34:56.430
Yes, as she said, present,
02:34:56.430 --> 02:34:59.890
Commissioner Shiroma, one more time?
02:34:59.890 --> 02:35:01.200
Yes, present.
02:35:02.355 --> 02:35:05.750
Okay, just so we know, we're having a delay,
02:35:05.750 --> 02:35:09.300
I'm seeing people speak, and then I'm hearing them later.
02:35:09.300 --> 02:35:11.190
So I don't know if that's something that we can fix
02:35:11.190 --> 02:35:15.020
or we should deal with, but just giving folks a heads up.
02:35:16.160 --> 02:35:20.540
Okay, I will move onto item four on today's meeting agenda.
02:35:23.410 --> 02:35:26.090
Item four on today's meeting agenda was subject
02:35:26.090 --> 02:35:29.620
to a rate setting deliberative meeting, an RDM,
02:35:29.620 --> 02:35:34.440
and a hold to the June 11th voting meeting
02:35:34.440 --> 02:35:37.050
has been requested and granted.
02:35:37.050 --> 02:35:39.140
As a result of this item,
02:35:40.010 --> 02:35:42.730
as a result, excuse me, this item will be subject
02:35:42.730 --> 02:35:46.350
to a default ex parte quiet period,
02:35:46.350 --> 02:35:51.020
pursuant to Public Utilities Code Section 1701.3 (h) 6
02:35:54.242 --> 02:35:57.940
This item may be subject to additional quiet time,
02:35:57.940 --> 02:36:01.910
if the commission chooses to extend the default quiet time.
02:36:02.780 --> 02:36:06.173
The default quiet time is as follows.
02:36:06.173 --> 02:36:10.804
No oral or written parte communications
02:36:10.804 --> 02:36:15.600
will be allowed from June 8th, 2020
02:36:15.600 --> 02:36:19.978
to the end of June 11th, 2020 voting meeting.
02:36:19.978 --> 02:36:23.520
If the commission establishes additional quiet time
02:36:23.520 --> 02:36:27.770
for this item, oral and written ex parte communications
02:36:27.770 --> 02:36:31.060
will be restricted during that additional quiet time period.
02:36:31.920 --> 02:36:35.650
If this item is held again, the commission will continue
02:36:35.650 --> 02:36:39.870
on the ability to establish further ex parte quiet periods.
02:36:41.680 --> 02:36:46.550
Okay, moving on in our agenda to the agenda changes,
02:36:46.550 --> 02:36:48.520
those held and withdrawn.
02:36:48.520 --> 02:36:51.720
Here are the changes to today's agenda.
02:36:53.320 --> 02:36:58.010
Item two will be held until 6/11/20 meeting.
02:36:58.010 --> 02:37:01.730
Item four will be held till 6/11/20 meeting.
02:37:01.730 --> 02:37:06.650
Item five will be held until 7/16/20 meeting.
02:37:07.880 --> 02:37:10.820
Item seven has been withdrawn.
02:37:10.820 --> 02:37:14.580
Item nine will be held until the 6/11/20 meeting.
02:37:14.580 --> 02:37:19.540
Item 12 will be held until the 6/25/20 meeting.
02:37:19.540 --> 02:37:23.880
Item 17 will be held until the 6/25/20 meeting.
02:37:23.880 --> 02:37:28.160
Item 28 will be held until the 6/11/20 meeting.
02:37:28.160 --> 02:37:32.580
Item 35, it will be taken up with the consent agenda.
02:37:33.510 --> 02:37:37.280
Item 36 will be held until the 6/11/20 meeting.
02:37:37.280 --> 02:37:40.790
Item 42 will be taken up with the consent agenda.
02:37:40.790 --> 02:37:45.350
And item 43, will be taken up with the consent agenda.
02:37:51.678 --> 02:37:53.323
And then, I need to...
02:38:00.169 --> 02:38:01.002
Let's see.
02:38:03.040 --> 02:38:08.040
Okay, I need to read the following.
02:38:08.080 --> 02:38:11.650
Colleagues, at the May 21st, 2020 voting meeting,
02:38:11.650 --> 02:38:16.413
the proposed decision on I.19-09-016,
02:38:20.131 --> 02:38:22.920
the reorganization plan of Pacific Gas and Electric Company
02:38:22.920 --> 02:38:24.980
was held to this meeting.
02:38:24.980 --> 02:38:28.950
That item was held after the agenda for this meeting
02:38:28.950 --> 02:38:32.690
was published and must be taken up at today's meeting
02:38:32.690 --> 02:38:35.540
because of the schedule for the confirmation hearings
02:38:35.540 --> 02:38:38.480
in the United States Bankruptcy Court, which started
02:38:38.480 --> 02:38:42.640
on May 27th and are continuing today, in order to meet
02:38:42.640 --> 02:38:47.640
the statutory June 30 deadline for confirmation.
02:38:47.660 --> 02:38:51.950
In order to add this item, item 48, to today's agenda,
02:38:51.950 --> 02:38:56.540
pursuant to government code section 11125.3(a)2,
02:38:58.631 --> 02:39:01.270
we need to vote to find there is a need
02:39:01.270 --> 02:39:04.910
to take immediate action, and that the need for action
02:39:04.910 --> 02:39:07.950
came to our attention subsequent
02:39:07.950 --> 02:39:10.970
to the publication of the agenda for this meeting
02:39:10.970 --> 02:39:13.240
Colleagues, I move to add this item
02:39:13.240 --> 02:39:15.160
to our agenda for a vote today.
02:39:15.160 --> 02:39:16.060
I need a second.
02:39:17.680 --> 02:39:18.750
Second.
Second.
02:39:19.690 --> 02:39:21.810
It has been moved and seconded.
02:39:21.810 --> 02:39:25.360
Would the agenda clerk please call the roll?
02:39:25.360 --> 02:39:26.900
Commissioner Shiroma?
02:39:27.760 --> 02:39:28.950
Aye.
02:39:28.950 --> 02:39:31.115
Commissioner Guzman Aceves?
02:39:31.115 --> 02:39:32.690
Aye.
02:39:32.690 --> 02:39:34.910
Commissioner Randolph?
02:39:34.910 --> 02:39:35.950
Aye.
02:39:35.950 --> 02:39:37.750
Commissioner Rechtschaffen?
02:39:37.750 --> 02:39:39.230
Yes.
02:39:39.230 --> 02:39:41.400
President Batjer?
02:39:41.400 --> 02:39:42.233
Yes.
02:39:42.233 --> 02:39:43.820
Thank you, Jenae.
02:39:43.820 --> 02:39:46.640
Item 48 is now on today's agenda.
02:39:46.640 --> 02:39:48.760
And can be taken up for a vote.
02:39:48.760 --> 02:39:50.750
We will now take up the consent items.
02:39:50.750 --> 02:39:54.860
I need a motion to do that and a second.
02:39:54.860 --> 02:39:55.693
So moved.
02:39:56.720 --> 02:39:58.190
Second.
Second.
02:39:58.190 --> 02:39:59.740
It's been moved and seconded.
02:40:01.800 --> 02:40:04.410
Will the agenda clerk, please call the roll
02:40:04.410 --> 02:40:06.710
on the consent agenda items?
02:40:06.710 --> 02:40:10.350
For consent agenda items, Commissioner Shiroma?
02:40:10.350 --> 02:40:11.560
Aye.
02:40:11.560 --> 02:40:13.870
Commissioner Guzman Aceves?
02:40:13.870 --> 02:40:14.950
Aye.
02:40:14.950 --> 02:40:16.980
Commissioner Randolph?
02:40:16.980 --> 02:40:18.150
Aye.
02:40:18.150 --> 02:40:19.890
Commissioner Rechtschaffen?
02:40:19.890 --> 02:40:21.310
Aye.
02:40:21.310 --> 02:40:23.400
President Batjer?
02:40:23.400 --> 02:40:24.410
Aye.
02:40:24.410 --> 02:40:25.243
Thank you.
02:40:25.243 --> 02:40:28.410
The vote is unanimous on the consent agenda.
02:40:30.340 --> 02:40:33.720
I believe that we have some comments today
02:40:33.720 --> 02:40:35.590
on the consent items.
02:40:35.590 --> 02:40:37.010
Commissioner Rechtschaffen,
02:40:37.010 --> 02:40:39.690
would you like to make remarks on item 14?
02:40:39.690 --> 02:40:43.277
And that is the modification of decision 19-08-001,
02:40:45.300 --> 02:40:47.870
to the Self Generation Incentive Program.
02:40:48.730 --> 02:40:50.640
Thank you, President Batjer.
02:40:50.640 --> 02:40:53.680
Last year, we adopted a decision to ensure
02:40:53.680 --> 02:40:56.870
energy storage systems receiving incentives
02:40:56.870 --> 02:41:00.730
through the Self Generation Incentive Program, or SGIP,
02:41:00.730 --> 02:41:03.340
reduced customer GHG emissions,
02:41:03.340 --> 02:41:07.243
which is required by statute.
02:41:07.243 --> 02:41:11.036
And to ensure that they would meet this requirement,
02:41:11.036 --> 02:41:14.240
residential customers are required
02:41:14.240 --> 02:41:17.820
to enroll in time of use rates,
02:41:17.820 --> 02:41:21.840
with a peak rate starting at 4:00 PM or later,
02:41:21.840 --> 02:41:26.310
and with a pretty significant differential
02:41:26.310 --> 02:41:29.420
between the peak time during this time differential
02:41:29.420 --> 02:41:31.890
between the off-peak and peak time.
02:41:31.890 --> 02:41:35.840
This we call a SGIP compliant time of use rate
02:41:35.840 --> 02:41:38.170
and is a proxy for making sure
02:41:38.170 --> 02:41:41.579
that GHG emissions will be reduced by people
02:41:41.579 --> 02:41:44.240
who have these energy storage systems.
02:41:45.230 --> 02:41:48.931
This decision, granting the petition for modification,
02:41:48.931 --> 02:41:52.050
approves an acceptance for this rule
02:41:52.050 --> 02:41:54.730
for medical baseline customers,
02:41:54.730 --> 02:41:59.680
so that these customers can enroll in any kind of use rate
02:41:59.680 --> 02:42:03.950
if there is no so-called shift compliant rate, one that has
02:42:03.950 --> 02:42:07.531
those features I just mentioned, available to them.
02:42:07.531 --> 02:42:12.110
The reason we're doing this is because PG&E
02:42:12.110 --> 02:42:17.110
currently does not have a SGIP compliant time of use rate
02:42:17.520 --> 02:42:19.540
for medical baseline customers.
02:42:19.540 --> 02:42:22.450
There's nothing that they could enroll in.
02:42:22.450 --> 02:42:26.207
The other items is to PG&E does not.
02:42:26.207 --> 02:42:29.680
And the import of this is is that PG&E
02:42:29.680 --> 02:42:33.979
medical baseline customers in high fire threat areas,
02:42:33.979 --> 02:42:38.072
or who had public safety power shutoff events
02:42:38.072 --> 02:42:42.280
in the past year, it allows them access to the new
02:42:42.280 --> 02:42:47.280
equity resiliency programming for medical baseline customers
02:42:47.480 --> 02:42:50.670
that recent decisions established.
02:42:50.670 --> 02:42:53.290
Obviously this is of critical importance
02:42:53.290 --> 02:42:56.520
as we prepare for another fire season
02:42:56.520 --> 02:42:58.220
and potential power shutoffs.
02:42:59.140 --> 02:43:00.700
I want to thank PG&E for filing
02:43:00.700 --> 02:43:02.990
this petition for modification,
02:43:02.990 --> 02:43:07.130
and ALJ Fogel for a lot of work in this decision,
02:43:07.130 --> 02:43:08.660
as well as (voice distorting).
02:43:10.660 --> 02:43:11.493
Thank you.
02:43:12.880 --> 02:43:15.570
Okay. Thank you, Commissioner Rechtschaffen.
02:43:15.570 --> 02:43:18.050
Commissioner Guzman Aceves, would you like
02:43:18.050 --> 02:43:19.660
to make some comments on, I believe,
02:43:19.660 --> 02:43:21.410
item 42, which is the appointment
02:43:21.410 --> 02:43:23.810
to the Disadvantaged Communities Advisory Group.
02:43:24.920 --> 02:43:26.250
Yes. Thank you, President Batjer.
02:43:26.250 --> 02:43:29.140
I just wanted to share the most recent appointment
02:43:29.140 --> 02:43:31.670
of the latest advisor
02:43:31.670 --> 02:43:33.970
on the Disadvantaged Community Advisory Group.
02:43:33.970 --> 02:43:37.020
His name is Roman Partida-Lopez,
02:43:37.020 --> 02:43:40.770
and he will be playing a very important role for both,
02:43:40.770 --> 02:43:42.690
as you recall, for both advisories,
02:43:42.690 --> 02:43:45.550
both the CPUC and the CEC.
02:43:45.550 --> 02:43:48.080
He has a lot of relevant professional expertise
02:43:48.080 --> 02:43:49.980
as well as important lived experience.
02:43:51.260 --> 02:43:55.210
Professionally, Roman has a wide range of experience
02:43:55.210 --> 02:43:58.450
working on environmental justice and legal issues
02:43:58.450 --> 02:44:01.420
with many reputable organizations
02:44:01.420 --> 02:44:05.360
from the city of Chula Vista, San Diego Coastkeeper,
02:44:05.360 --> 02:44:07.800
and San Diego Legal Aid Society.
02:44:07.800 --> 02:44:11.030
For the past two years he has served as legal counsel,
02:44:11.030 --> 02:44:13.580
and as a member of the Environmental Equity team
02:44:13.580 --> 02:44:15.870
at the Greenlining Institute.
02:44:15.870 --> 02:44:17.590
He's the son of immigrant parents,
02:44:17.590 --> 02:44:20.240
and he grew up in the San Diego border region,
02:44:20.240 --> 02:44:24.110
spending time on both sides of the US Mexico border.
02:44:24.110 --> 02:44:27.290
During his formative years he lived in National City,
02:44:27.290 --> 02:44:32.020
with his home located two blocks away from the I-5 freeway,
02:44:32.020 --> 02:44:34.970
and next to an autobody shop that exposed
02:44:34.970 --> 02:44:38.770
him and his family to toxic chemicals and pollutants.
02:44:38.770 --> 02:44:41.630
We're very excited to have someone join the DACAG,
02:44:41.630 --> 02:44:45.344
and bringing his breadth and depth of knowledge
02:44:45.344 --> 02:44:48.740
in making a strong representation of Southern California,
02:44:48.740 --> 02:44:51.260
particularly the border region.
02:44:51.260 --> 02:44:53.360
So please help me in welcoming Roman.
02:44:53.360 --> 02:44:54.193
Thank you.
02:44:55.180 --> 02:44:56.130
Welcome.
02:44:57.590 --> 02:44:58.920
Thank you.
02:44:58.920 --> 02:45:01.420
Martha, thank you, Commissioner Guzman Aceves.
02:45:01.420 --> 02:45:03.890
Commissioner Shiroma, I believe you would like
02:45:03.890 --> 02:45:06.660
to make some remarks on item 43,
02:45:06.660 --> 02:45:10.200
item 18, item 20, item 26, and item 35.
02:45:11.680 --> 02:45:13.030
Yes.
02:45:13.030 --> 02:45:15.040
Thank you, President Batjer.
02:45:15.040 --> 02:45:18.180
Yes, I wanted to briefly highlight,
02:45:18.180 --> 02:45:22.590
a number of the votes we just took,
02:45:22.590 --> 02:45:27.060
that our efforts to respond
02:45:27.060 --> 02:45:29.260
to the current COVID-19 pandemic,
02:45:30.480 --> 02:45:34.820
in item 18, directs the utilities to offer contractors
02:45:34.820 --> 02:45:37.029
for the Energy Savings Assistance Program,
02:45:37.029 --> 02:45:40.550
a 60 day advanced payment for work
02:45:40.550 --> 02:45:42.590
to be done in the future.
02:45:42.590 --> 02:45:46.740
And this is important to keep workers on the payroll
02:45:46.740 --> 02:45:49.270
during the Stay-at-Home order and to provide
02:45:49.270 --> 02:45:54.270
for that bridge to assure that we have these expert workers
02:45:56.469 --> 02:46:01.469
available to continue this effort for low income households.
02:46:01.808 --> 02:46:05.580
And I would like to thank Allison LaBonte, Jason Symonds,
02:46:05.580 --> 02:46:08.020
and the rest of the Energy Division team,
02:46:08.020 --> 02:46:11.040
for their quick work on this item.
02:46:11.040 --> 02:46:15.410
Item 20 temporarily suspends the renewal process
02:46:15.410 --> 02:46:17.760
for our California Lifeline program,
02:46:17.760 --> 02:46:22.130
to ensure continued access to affordable communications
02:46:22.130 --> 02:46:24.580
and phone service during this time.
02:46:26.990 --> 02:46:28.310
This has been very important
02:46:28.310 --> 02:46:30.790
for people to be able to communicate.
02:46:30.790 --> 02:46:33.390
Thank you to Judge Stephanie Wang,
02:46:33.390 --> 02:46:36.970
and our Communications Division's Lifeline team,
02:46:36.970 --> 02:46:40.020
and our Legal Advisor Cynthia Yuen.
02:46:41.290 --> 02:46:44.470
Item 26 grants some of our regulated utilities
02:46:44.470 --> 02:46:49.250
quicker access to federal and state loan or grant programs,
02:46:49.250 --> 02:46:54.180
resulting in lower costs for consumers in the long term.
02:46:54.180 --> 02:46:57.130
And this is for water and energy.
02:46:57.130 --> 02:46:59.780
I'd like to thank Jack Mulligan from the Legal Division,
02:46:59.780 --> 02:47:03.350
and in particular, Bruce DeBerry from the Water Division,
02:47:03.350 --> 02:47:05.860
for their work on this resolution.
02:47:05.860 --> 02:47:08.780
And item 35, through the leadership
02:47:08.780 --> 02:47:13.590
of Commissioner Randolph, moves up the distribution
02:47:13.590 --> 02:47:15.230
of the whole Climate Credit
02:47:18.263 --> 02:47:21.360
for PacificCorp and Liberty Utilities
02:47:21.360 --> 02:47:24.498
in response to the Governor's Stay-at-Home order.
02:47:24.498 --> 02:47:29.498
And this will help to mitigate bills for folks
02:47:30.540 --> 02:47:32.720
who are staying at home and using
02:47:32.720 --> 02:47:34.870
more electricity than they otherwise would.
02:47:36.221 --> 02:47:41.221
And then finally, item 43 was our vote to reappoint
02:47:41.222 --> 02:47:46.210
Robert Castaneda to the Low Income Oversight Board,
02:47:46.210 --> 02:47:48.430
which advises the commission
02:47:48.430 --> 02:47:52.320
on any low income energy programs.
02:47:52.320 --> 02:47:54.980
And I just want to do a shout-out
02:47:54.980 --> 02:47:58.020
that the Low Income Oversight Board is holding
02:47:58.020 --> 02:48:02.410
its next quarterly meeting on Friday, June 12th via WebEx,
02:48:02.410 --> 02:48:07.260
and details can be found at the LIOB website.
02:48:07.260 --> 02:48:08.093
Thank you.
02:48:09.230 --> 02:48:11.830
President Batjer, this is Judge Simon,
02:48:11.830 --> 02:48:13.200
I am sorry to interrupt,
02:48:13.200 --> 02:48:17.060
but before you go onto the regular agenda.
02:48:17.060 --> 02:48:18.343
Yes, Judge?
02:48:18.343 --> 02:48:21.350
There's a small correction that needs to be made.
02:48:21.350 --> 02:48:22.740
Okay.
02:48:22.740 --> 02:48:26.540
The PG&E reorganization item,
02:48:26.540 --> 02:48:29.710
which you identified as item 48,
02:48:29.710 --> 02:48:34.710
had been item 48 since it's not on the published agenda.
02:48:37.020 --> 02:48:41.040
However, owing to the mysteries of production,
02:48:41.040 --> 02:48:45.520
on the agenda that is actually produced this morning,
02:48:45.520 --> 02:48:49.530
the item number has been changed to item 51.
02:48:49.530 --> 02:48:51.410
It is the same item.
02:48:51.410 --> 02:48:53.860
There is nothing different in its content.
02:48:54.740 --> 02:48:57.750
So, I would just like the record to reflect that
02:48:57.750 --> 02:49:02.750
the discussion and adoption of item 48 was prior item 48,
02:49:03.850 --> 02:49:08.300
which is now current item 51, identical in all respects.
02:49:09.310 --> 02:49:13.040
Anne, do we need to go back and take a vote on it,
02:49:13.040 --> 02:49:16.900
as we did on item 48, just to be clear?
02:49:17.800 --> 02:49:20.240
This is Arocles Aguilar, the General Counsel.
02:49:20.240 --> 02:49:22.600
I think out of an abundance of caution,
02:49:22.600 --> 02:49:27.450
I would redo the vote, so the record is imminently clear
02:49:27.450 --> 02:49:30.010
that you voted to add item 51.
02:49:31.500 --> 02:49:35.920
No, it's item 48, you said item...
02:49:36.860 --> 02:49:41.780
It's now item 51, what had been item 48.
02:49:42.640 --> 02:49:44.686
Apologies, this is Michelle Cook.
02:49:44.686 --> 02:49:47.660
In revision five of the agenda, it was 51.
02:49:47.660 --> 02:49:50.680
It is now 48 in revision six,
02:49:50.680 --> 02:49:52.910
which is the most currently posted agenda.
02:49:52.910 --> 02:49:53.743
Apologies.
02:49:55.330 --> 02:49:57.530
So nothing new needs to happen.
02:49:57.530 --> 02:49:59.930
It now should be fine.
02:49:59.930 --> 02:50:04.650
But anyone who read revision five and saw item 51,
02:50:04.650 --> 02:50:06.720
it is the same as item 48.
02:50:06.720 --> 02:50:07.720
Thank you, Michelle.
02:50:08.910 --> 02:50:09.743
Thank you, Michelle.
02:50:09.743 --> 02:50:13.260
So we can move on through the agenda.
02:50:13.260 --> 02:50:15.010
Thank you, commissioners, for your comments
02:50:15.010 --> 02:50:19.610
on the consent items, I appreciate them.
02:50:19.610 --> 02:50:23.050
We will now move onto the regular agenda items.
02:50:23.900 --> 02:50:28.900
And we will first take up, we will take them in the order
02:50:30.120 --> 02:50:32.739
that they are listed.
02:50:32.739 --> 02:50:36.050
So the first item is item 34.
02:50:36.050 --> 02:50:37.970
It is assigned to me.
02:50:37.970 --> 02:50:40.850
And it's Phase 2 Updated and Additional Guidelines
02:50:40.850 --> 02:50:43.580
for the De-Energization of Power Lines
02:50:43.580 --> 02:50:47.750
in Dangerous Conditions, better known as PSPS.
02:50:51.337 --> 02:50:54.260
I will present the item and the proposed decision
02:50:54.260 --> 02:50:57.360
on Phase 2 Updated and Additional Guidelines
02:50:57.360 --> 02:50:59.780
for the De-Energization of Power Lines
02:50:59.780 --> 02:51:01.410
in Dangerous Conditions.
02:51:01.410 --> 02:51:03.990
Before I get into the details of the decision,
02:51:03.990 --> 02:51:06.543
I'd like to first say just a few words.
02:51:06.543 --> 02:51:11.040
Though it seems so long ago, it was only six months ago
02:51:11.040 --> 02:51:14.430
when PG&E initiated the largest public safety shutoff,
02:51:14.430 --> 02:51:17.610
PSPS, in the history of California.
02:51:17.610 --> 02:51:21.780
PG&E's deliberate action resulted in power being shutoff
02:51:21.780 --> 02:51:25.700
to more than 700,000 customer accounts,
02:51:25.700 --> 02:51:28.060
estimated to have directly impacted
02:51:28.060 --> 02:51:29.510
more than two million people.
02:51:30.640 --> 02:51:33.530
After that unmitigated catastrophe,
02:51:33.530 --> 02:51:37.090
I pledged that this would not become the new normal.
02:51:37.090 --> 02:51:40.190
Loss of power is not a mere inconvenience,
02:51:40.190 --> 02:51:43.110
it endangers the lives and property,
02:51:43.110 --> 02:51:46.870
especially to those individuals who are most vulnerable
02:51:46.870 --> 02:51:49.960
and are reliant on power for medical reasons.
02:51:49.960 --> 02:51:52.410
We heard much testimony to that effect
02:51:52.410 --> 02:51:55.530
in our public comment period this morning.
02:51:55.530 --> 02:51:59.790
Loss of power causes major disruptions to businesses,
02:51:59.790 --> 02:52:02.620
medical facilities, schools, transportation,
02:52:02.620 --> 02:52:04.920
and other critical facilities,
02:52:04.920 --> 02:52:08.550
and strains local emergency and public safety personnel.
02:52:09.660 --> 02:52:12.380
While the utilities have statutory authority
02:52:12.380 --> 02:52:16.150
to initiate a PSPS only as a last resort,
02:52:16.150 --> 02:52:21.150
they must execute PSPS actions in a way
02:52:22.100 --> 02:52:25.380
that takes every measure to maximize safety
02:52:25.380 --> 02:52:28.710
and minimize the impact and the destruction to the public.
02:52:29.743 --> 02:52:33.147
Last fall, in the wake of PG&E's
02:52:33.147 --> 02:52:35.600
disastrous PSPS implementation,
02:52:35.600 --> 02:52:40.600
I promised that the CPUC would take swift action
02:52:42.900 --> 02:52:46.880
to address this problem before the 2020 wildfire season.
02:52:46.880 --> 02:52:50.080
Today's decision demonstrates that even agencies
02:52:50.080 --> 02:52:52.890
that are subject to formalized process
02:52:52.890 --> 02:52:56.140
can quickly address emergency situations.
02:52:56.140 --> 02:52:59.715
But we could not have gotten to this point
02:52:59.715 --> 02:53:02.640
without the dedicated effort of a multi-functional team,
02:53:02.640 --> 02:53:06.060
here at the CPUC, and then diligent efforts
02:53:06.060 --> 02:53:07.730
of the 30-something parties
02:53:07.730 --> 02:53:10.420
that have participated in this proceeding.
02:53:10.420 --> 02:53:14.080
My sincere gratitude goes out to the ALJ division,
02:53:14.080 --> 02:53:17.040
the CPUC staff, for getting us to the finish line
02:53:17.040 --> 02:53:19.620
on this important decision, especially during
02:53:19.620 --> 02:53:23.180
these trying times under shelter-in-place orders.
02:53:24.100 --> 02:53:26.970
I would like to start by thanking ALJ Brian Stevens
02:53:26.970 --> 02:53:28.820
for working under a tight schedule
02:53:28.820 --> 02:53:31.700
and masterfully fitting together the input
02:53:31.700 --> 02:53:35.690
from a large set of CPUC experts and numerous parties
02:53:35.690 --> 02:53:39.120
into a high quality set of PSPS requirements.
02:53:39.120 --> 02:53:40.450
I would also like to thank
02:53:40.450 --> 02:53:44.060
Assistant Chief ALJ Jessica Hecht for her leadership,
02:53:44.060 --> 02:53:48.391
and former ALJ, now Program Manager, Melissa Semcer,
02:53:48.391 --> 02:53:51.120
who previously led this proceeding
02:53:51.120 --> 02:53:53.350
and worked closely with ALJ Stevens
02:53:53.350 --> 02:53:56.690
to make a quick and very efficient transition.
02:53:56.690 --> 02:53:59.910
Thanks to Rachel Peterson, now the Deputy Executive Director
02:53:59.910 --> 02:54:02.470
for Safety Enforcement and Policy and her team.
02:54:02.470 --> 02:54:04.410
Caroline Thomas-Jacobs, Director
02:54:04.410 --> 02:54:07.710
of the Wildfire Safety Division and her team.
02:54:07.710 --> 02:54:10.180
And of course our hardworking folks
02:54:10.180 --> 02:54:12.550
in the Industry Division staff.
02:54:13.540 --> 02:54:17.170
Thank you, most importantly, to my Bagley-Keene partner,
02:54:17.170 --> 02:54:21.220
Commissioner Rechtschaffen and his terrific advisors,
02:54:21.220 --> 02:54:24.110
Sean Simon and Alec Pineda.
02:54:24.961 --> 02:54:28.900
I finally thank, and finally, of course,
02:54:28.900 --> 02:54:31.540
thanks to my own advisors,
02:54:31.540 --> 02:54:34.900
who worked very, very diligently and hard on this,
02:54:34.900 --> 02:54:36.540
Dave Peck and Shannon O'Rourke.
02:54:37.390 --> 02:54:40.770
This decision adopts additional de-energization guidelines
02:54:40.770 --> 02:54:43.700
for the electric investor-owned utilities.
02:54:43.700 --> 02:54:47.190
The guidelines included here and upon those adopted
02:54:47.190 --> 02:54:52.190
in the Resolution ESRB-8, and in last year's decision
02:54:53.280 --> 02:54:55.830
on the Phase 1 of the guidelines.
02:54:55.830 --> 02:54:58.900
The adopted new measures promote public safety
02:54:58.900 --> 02:55:01.784
by requiring the utilities to better communicate
02:55:01.784 --> 02:55:04.530
with impacted communities in advance
02:55:04.530 --> 02:55:08.690
of the 2020 wildfire season, and to minimize
02:55:08.690 --> 02:55:13.610
the duration and the impact of the PSPS events when called.
02:55:13.610 --> 02:55:16.170
These new guidelines address the issues that arose
02:55:16.170 --> 02:55:19.350
during the 2019 PSPS events.
02:55:19.350 --> 02:55:21.950
Coming out of those events, it was clear
02:55:21.950 --> 02:55:26.480
that major improvements were needed in the frequency
02:55:26.480 --> 02:55:30.430
and approach to communicating with impacted communities,
02:55:30.430 --> 02:55:33.830
and approaching the PSPS events with a focus
02:55:33.830 --> 02:55:37.090
on minimizing impact once initiated.
02:55:38.450 --> 02:55:41.170
The new guidelines are focused on ensuring utilities
02:55:41.170 --> 02:55:44.690
are taking the necessary steps to comprehend
02:55:44.690 --> 02:55:47.330
and address the needs of impacted communities
02:55:47.330 --> 02:55:51.020
as part of their PSPS planning and execution.
02:55:51.020 --> 02:55:54.380
Those guidelines go into effect immediately
02:55:54.380 --> 02:55:56.630
and require progress reports by the utilities
02:55:56.630 --> 02:55:59.420
within two months, a critical requirement,
02:55:59.420 --> 02:56:01.120
given the consideration of the current
02:56:01.120 --> 02:56:06.120
COVID-19 pandemic coinciding with the wildfire season.
02:56:06.150 --> 02:56:09.100
And then a second progress report this winter,
02:56:09.100 --> 02:56:10.730
post-wildfire season.
02:56:10.730 --> 02:56:12.810
The decision acknowledges that the utility
02:56:12.810 --> 02:56:15.280
should make every effort to adhere
02:56:15.280 --> 02:56:19.230
to the PSPS guidelines while complying with direction
02:56:19.230 --> 02:56:22.780
from public health officials regarding shelter-in-place,
02:56:22.780 --> 02:56:25.410
social distancing, or other measures,
02:56:25.410 --> 02:56:28.368
that may need to be taken in response.
02:56:28.368 --> 02:56:31.201
(electronic beep)
03:01:38.444 --> 03:01:42.527
(technicians chattering quietly)
03:01:57.124 --> 03:02:00.120
And when you say you're back, Robert,
03:02:00.120 --> 03:02:02.380
tell me what's up now?
03:02:02.380 --> 03:02:03.213
Todd.
03:02:03.213 --> 03:02:05.032
Oh, and you're in contact with Todd?
03:02:05.032 --> 03:02:06.340
Yeah.
03:02:06.340 --> 03:02:07.173
Okay.
03:02:51.050 --> 03:02:54.650
Okay, I think we're doing a sound test.
03:02:54.650 --> 03:02:57.350
To see if the audio is back on.
03:02:59.113 --> 03:03:01.080
So I'll do that, testing, testing?
03:03:08.380 --> 03:03:09.630
He says loud and clear.
03:03:28.848 --> 03:03:30.170
Can you hear me all right?
03:03:32.710 --> 03:03:33.543
Yes.
03:03:33.543 --> 03:03:34.580
Okay.
03:03:34.580 --> 03:03:36.200
I don't know where I was lost.
03:03:36.200 --> 03:03:39.810
So, can somebody tell, is it,
03:03:39.810 --> 03:03:42.180
did you hear me address.
03:04:25.940 --> 03:04:27.470
Going to one of two groups.
03:04:27.470 --> 03:04:29.060
The first group is those guidelines
03:04:29.060 --> 03:04:31.620
that ensure utilities are better comprehending
03:04:31.620 --> 03:04:35.160
and addressing the needs of impacted communities.
03:04:35.160 --> 03:04:37.010
These new measures include:
03:04:37.010 --> 03:04:40.160
First, establish quarterly redrawn working groups
03:04:40.160 --> 03:04:42.784
and advisory boards with local communities,
03:04:42.784 --> 03:04:45.840
access and functional needs representatives
03:04:45.840 --> 03:04:47.960
of public safety partners to ensure
03:04:47.960 --> 03:04:51.468
that utilities hear directly from the impacted communities
03:04:51.468 --> 03:04:56.468
to public safety experts on how the effects of the PSPS,
03:04:56.630 --> 03:05:01.350
and then incorporate that feedback into their PSPS planning.
03:05:03.081 --> 03:05:07.240
Second, develop communication and notification plans
03:05:07.240 --> 03:05:10.723
and ensure that the utility website has sufficient bandwidth
03:05:10.723 --> 03:05:14.320
capable to provide the public with precise information
03:05:14.320 --> 03:05:17.810
of potential and active PSPS events.
03:05:17.810 --> 03:05:20.930
Third, site communication carriers
03:05:20.930 --> 03:05:25.310
that meter and circuit IDs to be de-energized,
03:05:25.310 --> 03:05:28.920
in advance of taking actions to ensure carriers
03:05:28.920 --> 03:05:32.097
employ resources, to minimize the impact
03:05:32.097 --> 03:05:35.470
of PSPS events on communication infrastructure.
03:05:36.750 --> 03:05:39.120
Fourth, identify people who may be
03:05:39.120 --> 03:05:43.080
at medical or safety risk of an extended power outage,
03:05:43.930 --> 03:05:48.930
above and beyond those utility medical baseline rates,
03:05:49.600 --> 03:05:53.400
and work in collaboration with public safety partners,
03:05:53.400 --> 03:05:55.730
local governments, and representatives
03:05:55.730 --> 03:05:58.010
of access and functional needs communities
03:05:58.010 --> 03:06:03.000
to identify assistance required during the PSPS event.
03:06:03.000 --> 03:06:07.940
And finally, plan and execute PSPS tabletop exercise
03:06:07.940 --> 03:06:10.330
in areas with the highest historical
03:06:10.330 --> 03:06:15.160
and forecasted risk of PSPS, in coordination with the CPUC,
03:06:16.006 --> 03:06:19.140
the Department of Forestry, Cal Fire, and Cal OES,
03:06:20.101 --> 03:06:21.590
and representatives of the access
03:06:21.590 --> 03:06:24.330
and functional needs communities.
03:06:24.330 --> 03:06:26.940
The second group of PSPS guidelines are those
03:06:26.940 --> 03:06:30.380
that minimize the duration and impact
03:06:30.380 --> 03:06:33.270
of the PSPS event on communities.
03:06:33.270 --> 03:06:34.480
These measures include:
03:06:34.480 --> 03:06:38.600
First, finalize community resource centers plans
03:06:38.600 --> 03:06:41.160
within 60 days of this decision,
03:06:41.160 --> 03:06:44.460
based on local, demographic, and safety needs.
03:06:44.460 --> 03:06:45.740
Community resource centers,
03:06:45.740 --> 03:06:49.490
to provide device charge locations,
03:06:49.490 --> 03:06:53.644
cellular network services and be operable from at least
03:06:53.644 --> 03:06:58.644
between 8:00 AM and 10:00 PM during the PSPS event.
03:06:58.788 --> 03:07:02.280
Second, restore service after PSPS events
03:07:02.280 --> 03:07:04.290
as soon as possible.
03:07:04.290 --> 03:07:07.360
Revision one of PD clarifies that power
03:07:07.360 --> 03:07:10.430
must be restored within 24 hours
03:07:10.430 --> 03:07:14.070
of the termination of the de-energization event,
03:07:14.070 --> 03:07:16.320
unless it is unsafe to do so.
03:07:17.230 --> 03:07:20.150
And finally, work with local, tribal,
03:07:20.150 --> 03:07:21.990
federal, and state government agencies,
03:07:21.990 --> 03:07:25.270
and other private and public sector parties,
03:07:25.270 --> 03:07:28.020
to identify critical transportation,
03:07:28.020 --> 03:07:31.320
telecommunication, and water system infrastructure
03:07:31.320 --> 03:07:35.800
located in PSPS prone areas, requiring backup generation
03:07:35.800 --> 03:07:38.530
to ensure that critical infrastructure
03:07:38.530 --> 03:07:42.120
is not brought offline during a PSPS event.
03:07:43.530 --> 03:07:46.560
All these guidelines are just that, guidelines.
03:07:46.560 --> 03:07:49.740
And it is upon the utilities to appropriately follow them,
03:07:49.740 --> 03:07:51.510
and execute upon them.
03:07:52.350 --> 03:07:55.010
It is my intention that the addition
03:07:55.010 --> 03:07:59.230
of these new requirements to the already existing guidelines
03:07:59.230 --> 03:08:02.510
will help the utilities to better maintain public safety,
03:08:02.510 --> 03:08:05.350
this wildfire season and beyond.
03:08:05.350 --> 03:08:07.540
Lastly, I want to remind everyone
03:08:07.540 --> 03:08:09.980
that we are now in wildfire season.
03:08:09.980 --> 03:08:14.410
Weather conditions this weekend, throughout the state,
03:08:14.410 --> 03:08:17.224
are calling on us to be vigilant,
03:08:17.224 --> 03:08:19.840
and at any moment, be ready to act.
03:08:20.740 --> 03:08:23.340
And with that, I ask my fellow commissioners
03:08:23.340 --> 03:08:25.830
for their support on item 34.
03:08:25.830 --> 03:08:27.560
And I'll turn to any comments.
03:08:32.210 --> 03:08:33.490
President Batjer?
03:08:34.424 --> 03:08:36.060
Commissioner Randolph?
03:08:37.037 --> 03:08:39.810
And I just have a few brief comments.
03:08:40.710 --> 03:08:44.530
I wanna thank you, and Commissioner Rechtschaffen,
03:08:44.530 --> 03:08:47.330
and again, for all your work in leading this proceeding.
03:08:48.671 --> 03:08:51.710
I think it's clear based on the wildfire mitigation plans
03:08:51.710 --> 03:08:55.730
that it's gonna be some time before we get to a point
03:08:55.730 --> 03:09:00.730
where our system can entirely avoid PSPS.
03:09:00.865 --> 03:09:03.450
So we have to learn to figure out
03:09:03.450 --> 03:09:08.450
how to coexist with that important safety measure.
03:09:08.650 --> 03:09:11.750
And it was very clear from last fire season
03:09:11.750 --> 03:09:16.486
that lack of communication and coordination
03:09:16.486 --> 03:09:21.340
was a critical failure in the process.
03:09:21.340 --> 03:09:25.030
And so this decision really addresses that
03:09:25.030 --> 03:09:29.490
and lays out some clear guidelines and clear best practices.
03:09:30.740 --> 03:09:33.850
And so, I really appreciate all that hard work.
03:09:33.850 --> 03:09:36.650
And I'd also lastly note that,
03:09:36.650 --> 03:09:39.150
one of the things that hopefully
03:09:39.150 --> 03:09:41.710
is gonna make this process successful
03:09:41.710 --> 03:09:46.710
is that Caroline Thomas-Jacobs and Rachel Peterson
03:09:48.060 --> 03:09:51.533
are meeting regularly and consistently
03:09:51.533 --> 03:09:55.190
with the utilities, and really bird-dogging them,
03:09:55.190 --> 03:09:57.600
and keeping an eye on them, and making sure,
03:09:58.470 --> 03:10:02.130
in particular, PG&E, but all of the utilities,
03:10:02.130 --> 03:10:05.300
to really comply with these guidelines
03:10:05.300 --> 03:10:09.020
and implement the PSPSs appropriately.
03:10:09.020 --> 03:10:13.830
And so that legwork and consistent attention is very great.
03:10:15.110 --> 03:10:18.260
So, I'm very supportive of this decision. Thank you.
03:10:18.260 --> 03:10:20.258
Thank you, Commissioner Randolph.
03:10:20.258 --> 03:10:23.680
I'll just add that, thank you for noting the fact
03:10:23.680 --> 03:10:28.250
that we have two very senior and very experienced people
03:10:28.250 --> 03:10:31.603
meeting on a regular basis with the IOUs,
03:10:31.603 --> 03:10:33.050
and noted particularly, PG&E.
03:10:34.296 --> 03:10:37.160
We are, in considering things that this PD is ordering,
03:10:37.160 --> 03:10:39.350
for example, the community resource centers,
03:10:39.350 --> 03:10:42.080
when we say that they react in 60 days,
03:10:42.080 --> 03:10:45.060
they are in a better position already,
03:10:45.060 --> 03:10:48.610
as wildfire season has started.
03:10:48.610 --> 03:10:51.640
and it's because of that bird-dogging,
03:10:51.640 --> 03:10:54.830
as you referred to it as, has gone on,
03:10:54.830 --> 03:10:59.830
that I think the rate of preparation has quickened,
03:11:01.600 --> 03:11:05.830
in February and March and April, to get the IOUs
03:11:05.830 --> 03:11:09.800
to a much better place in preparation.
03:11:09.800 --> 03:11:14.330
Not there yet, and also, when we call for the exercises.
03:11:14.330 --> 03:11:17.370
Those exercises are all already planned,
03:11:17.370 --> 03:11:19.890
for June, July, and August.
03:11:19.890 --> 03:11:24.480
So I hope all of our community partners and stakeholders
03:11:24.480 --> 03:11:29.140
will join in on those exercises.
03:11:29.140 --> 03:11:32.750
PG&E needs to plan for June.
03:11:32.750 --> 03:11:35.210
And I believe San Diego Gas and Electric
03:11:35.210 --> 03:11:36.840
has one in June and July.
03:11:36.840 --> 03:11:41.040
And then San Diego Gas and Electric is,
03:11:41.040 --> 03:11:43.290
their exercise is later in August.
03:11:43.290 --> 03:11:46.550
So thank you for those comments, Commissioner Randolph.
03:11:46.550 --> 03:11:49.500
Other comments on item 34?
03:11:49.500 --> 03:11:51.100
Yes, Commissioner Rechtschaffen?
03:11:54.010 --> 03:11:56.310
Thank you, President Batjer.
03:11:56.310 --> 03:12:00.960
I want to thank you and the multidisciplinary staff
03:12:00.960 --> 03:12:04.050
and Judge Stevens for this decision.
03:12:04.050 --> 03:12:07.190
Its steed and substance meet the challenges
03:12:07.190 --> 03:12:10.300
posed by last year's shutoffs.
03:12:10.300 --> 03:12:13.900
I want to underscore what's implicit in what you,
03:12:13.900 --> 03:12:15.910
and Commissioner Randolph was talking about.
03:12:15.910 --> 03:12:19.250
This is really, this is one of many steps.
03:12:19.250 --> 03:12:21.720
The V-U-C-N has stated taking,
03:12:21.720 --> 03:12:26.720
to improve wildfire fighting efforts by our PSPS protocols
03:12:28.360 --> 03:12:30.140
and supervision of the protocols.
03:12:30.140 --> 03:12:32.670
There's been a lot of informal meetings,
03:12:32.670 --> 03:12:35.020
which President Batjer, you've convened several
03:12:36.080 --> 03:12:38.730
emergency meetings and other meetings directly
03:12:38.730 --> 03:12:40.400
with PG&E and other utilities
03:12:40.400 --> 03:12:43.480
to get immediate accountability for what happened last year.
03:12:43.480 --> 03:12:45.190
There are very important provisions
03:12:45.190 --> 03:12:47.280
in the wildfire mitigation plans
03:12:47.280 --> 03:12:52.020
that we are working through that also deal with PSPSs.
03:12:52.020 --> 03:12:54.200
So this is just one of many steps
03:12:54.200 --> 03:12:57.810
the state is taking and the commission is taking.
03:12:59.160 --> 03:13:02.870
I think it builds very constructively
03:13:02.870 --> 03:13:06.310
on the lessons learned from last year's events,
03:13:06.310 --> 03:13:08.960
as President Batjer indicated.
03:13:08.960 --> 03:13:10.880
Just to highlight a few of the things
03:13:10.880 --> 03:13:14.300
that are particularly important.
03:13:14.300 --> 03:13:15.680
As President Batjer notes,
03:13:15.680 --> 03:13:18.450
there will now be working groups and an advisory board
03:13:18.450 --> 03:13:20.330
that will meet regularly.
03:13:20.330 --> 03:13:21.660
One of the great benefits of this
03:13:21.660 --> 03:13:25.245
is that this will ensure there's a formal communication loop
03:13:25.245 --> 03:13:30.245
between communities and emergency responders
03:13:30.917 --> 03:13:33.040
and the IOUs, so there'll be a feedback loop
03:13:33.040 --> 03:13:36.780
that the IOUs will hear directly from communities.
03:13:36.780 --> 03:13:39.240
The guidelines also set up a process
03:13:39.240 --> 03:13:42.150
of continual improvement and learning from best practices.
03:13:43.090 --> 03:13:45.520
The IOUs still have support from the commission
03:13:45.520 --> 03:13:48.220
on how well they're doing, if they've successfully
03:13:48.220 --> 03:13:50.632
implemented lessons from past events,
03:13:50.632 --> 03:13:52.890
and they have to use those lessons
03:13:52.890 --> 03:13:57.530
to continually refine and improve PSPS processes.
03:13:58.480 --> 03:14:01.940
President Batjer mentioned more concrete rules
03:14:01.940 --> 03:14:03.760
for the community resource standards
03:14:03.760 --> 03:14:05.390
and the minimum hours of operation
03:14:05.390 --> 03:14:06.979
and the power requirement.
03:14:06.979 --> 03:14:11.390
The rollout of those was quite problematic last year,
03:14:11.390 --> 03:14:13.380
particularly at PG&E.
03:14:14.300 --> 03:14:17.760
It's imperative that we do it right this year.
03:14:17.760 --> 03:14:21.210
And as President Batjer was explaining,
03:14:21.210 --> 03:14:25.068
generally all standards now take into account
03:14:25.068 --> 03:14:26.860
state and local health measures
03:14:26.860 --> 03:14:29.989
when dealing with the COVID crisis.
03:14:29.989 --> 03:14:32.840
As President Batjer mentioned,
03:14:32.840 --> 03:14:35.710
the decision imposes better notification requirements.
03:14:35.710 --> 03:14:39.610
Among these requirements that, whenever reasonably possible,
03:14:39.610 --> 03:14:41.990
communications must be in the language
03:14:41.990 --> 03:14:44.020
preferred by the customer.
03:14:44.020 --> 03:14:46.420
An alternative format needs to be made available
03:14:46.420 --> 03:14:49.210
for people with disabilities who may not be able
03:14:49.210 --> 03:14:52.350
to use those standard forms of communication.
03:14:53.260 --> 03:14:55.510
And then finally, in part to deal with
03:14:55.510 --> 03:14:58.270
our growing electric vehicle use,
03:14:58.270 --> 03:15:01.000
and the need to provide areas large to charge them
03:15:01.000 --> 03:15:05.790
during PSPS events, was a decision to direct the IOUs,
03:15:05.790 --> 03:15:10.700
in next wildfires, to implement local EV charging docks.
03:15:11.880 --> 03:15:15.540
Again, I want to echo appreciation for the excellent staff,
03:15:15.540 --> 03:15:19.420
for a real example of agency breaking down silos
03:15:19.420 --> 03:15:22.350
and for coordinating as well as finishing,
03:15:22.350 --> 03:15:26.280
and echo that to my Advisors Alec Pineda and Sean Simon.
03:15:26.280 --> 03:15:27.113
Thank you.
03:15:28.120 --> 03:15:29.330
Thank you, Commissioner Rechtschaffen.
03:15:29.330 --> 03:15:30.930
I appreciate those comments,
03:15:30.930 --> 03:15:34.780
as well as your alliance on this important PD.
03:15:34.780 --> 03:15:36.350
Yes, Commissioner Shiroma?
03:15:38.340 --> 03:15:39.830
Yes. Thank you.
03:15:39.830 --> 03:15:43.660
Thank you, President Batjer and Commissioner Rechtschaffen,
03:15:43.660 --> 03:15:46.330
Judge Stevens, and the many staff who helped
03:15:46.330 --> 03:15:50.470
bring this item forward with substantial pressing
03:15:50.470 --> 03:15:55.055
improvements on the the existing guidelines.
03:15:55.055 --> 03:16:00.055
The proposed decision contains important provisions
03:16:00.540 --> 03:16:03.140
to improve coordination and communication
03:16:03.140 --> 03:16:06.270
with local governments and over the past few months,
03:16:06.270 --> 03:16:10.120
we have heard from local government representatives,
03:16:10.120 --> 03:16:14.180
of which have come to previous voting meetings
03:16:14.180 --> 03:16:17.676
and shared their views with us.
03:16:17.676 --> 03:16:21.420
And as others have said very eloquently,
03:16:21.420 --> 03:16:26.420
the importance of involving communities and advisory groups
03:16:27.820 --> 03:16:32.820
will really help keep that close coordination
03:16:34.170 --> 03:16:37.650
improved and ongoing, and hence, I look forward
03:16:37.650 --> 03:16:40.350
to voting for this proposed decision.
03:16:40.350 --> 03:16:42.980
I appreciate that it strengthens requirements
03:16:42.980 --> 03:16:45.000
about advanced notification,
03:16:45.000 --> 03:16:48.180
especially for communication providers.
03:16:48.180 --> 03:16:51.320
It's essential that we do everything we can
03:16:51.320 --> 03:16:54.470
to keep the communication networks up and running
03:16:54.470 --> 03:16:58.550
during the PSPS events, and it's more complicated
03:16:58.550 --> 03:17:02.670
with the pandemic overlaying everything.
03:17:02.670 --> 03:17:06.790
This decision is an important one of many actions
03:17:06.790 --> 03:17:09.230
towards mitigating the impacts
03:17:09.230 --> 03:17:11.550
of PSPS events on public safety.
03:17:11.550 --> 03:17:15.940
The utilities are required to do more hardening
03:17:15.940 --> 03:17:20.050
of their systems and they are actively doing that now,
03:17:20.050 --> 03:17:22.530
they have been for any months.
03:17:22.530 --> 03:17:25.710
Increasing the mitigation management activities
03:17:25.710 --> 03:17:28.710
in advance of fire season is still essential.
03:17:28.710 --> 03:17:32.269
And so I look forward to fewer PSPS events,
03:17:32.269 --> 03:17:35.410
and that the electricity is
03:17:35.410 --> 03:17:38.240
brought back online much more quickly.
03:17:38.240 --> 03:17:39.690
Thank you.
03:17:39.690 --> 03:17:41.610
Thank you, Commissioner Shiroma.
03:17:41.610 --> 03:17:42.960
Commissioner Guzman Aceves?
03:17:43.920 --> 03:17:45.000
Thank you, President Batjer.
03:17:45.000 --> 03:17:46.600
I just wanted to reiterate,
03:17:46.600 --> 03:17:49.462
many of the points that have already been made.
03:17:49.462 --> 03:17:53.010
Really (voice distorting) we're requiring
03:17:53.010 --> 03:17:55.560
so many of these common sense measures
03:17:55.560 --> 03:17:58.440
because they're not created organically.
03:17:58.440 --> 03:18:01.460
I think the need for local coordination and planning
03:18:01.460 --> 03:18:06.460
is really what was missing so much last fall.
03:18:06.630 --> 03:18:10.030
We saw the people when we were up in Redding
03:18:10.030 --> 03:18:13.014
and while I was visiting some of the counties,
03:18:13.014 --> 03:18:15.420
that some of their community resource centers
03:18:15.420 --> 03:18:18.203
were too few or too far away.
03:18:18.203 --> 03:18:22.610
And for example, up in Redding, one of the council members
03:18:22.610 --> 03:18:25.430
mentioned that he was 30 miles away.
03:18:25.430 --> 03:18:27.620
And that's why the coordination
03:18:27.620 --> 03:18:30.338
that happening today is really needed.
03:18:30.338 --> 03:18:33.170
We also heard today during public comments,
03:18:33.170 --> 03:18:35.473
something that just kind of reminds us
03:18:35.473 --> 03:18:38.330
to really help at the individual level.
03:18:38.330 --> 03:18:40.904
Where the commenter mentioned that
03:18:40.904 --> 03:18:44.160
they were providing hot water to the people
03:18:44.160 --> 03:18:47.683
who were not being able to provide
03:18:47.683 --> 03:18:51.110
their hot water on their own because of the PSPS.
03:18:51.110 --> 03:18:54.510
So these types of things are hopefully things
03:18:54.510 --> 03:18:57.570
that are not forecasted that can be worked through
03:18:57.570 --> 03:18:59.860
with the local government and first responders
03:18:59.860 --> 03:19:02.780
and the local non-governmental assistance.
03:19:04.100 --> 03:19:07.620
And in addition, I do want to really highlight
03:19:08.599 --> 03:19:11.810
one provision, which I know was very troublesome,
03:19:11.810 --> 03:19:14.330
especially for many local governments,
03:19:14.330 --> 03:19:15.780
and that was the identification
03:19:15.780 --> 03:19:17.690
of the vulnerable customers,
03:19:17.690 --> 03:19:19.726
and being able to share the information
03:19:19.726 --> 03:19:23.120
on the customers who are on there for baseline.
03:19:23.120 --> 03:19:25.500
So I appreciate that that's being worked out,
03:19:25.500 --> 03:19:28.410
being able to be worked out in a confidential manner.
03:19:28.410 --> 03:19:31.350
And finally, the importance of complying
03:19:31.350 --> 03:19:33.170
with these requirements is something
03:19:33.170 --> 03:19:34.980
that PG&E has incorporated into
03:19:35.979 --> 03:19:39.380
forthcoming items on bankruptcy reorganization
03:19:39.380 --> 03:19:42.220
and the enhanced enforcement that's included there,
03:19:42.220 --> 03:19:44.550
includes compliance with more requirements
03:19:44.550 --> 03:19:46.920
as a part of triggering events
03:19:46.920 --> 03:19:48.310
and have some enforcement.
03:19:49.228 --> 03:19:50.630
So it's something that (voice distorting)
03:19:50.630 --> 03:19:54.490
the overall need where the PG&E effort takes us,
03:19:54.490 --> 03:19:56.750
to behave more cooperatively,
03:19:56.750 --> 03:19:58.520
presenting its mitigating steps.
03:19:59.470 --> 03:20:01.300
So, thank you, and thank you, Judge Stevens,
03:20:01.300 --> 03:20:02.800
for all the hard work on this.
03:20:04.300 --> 03:20:05.910
Thank you, my fellow commissioners,
03:20:05.910 --> 03:20:10.440
very much for your very helpful and important comments.
03:20:10.440 --> 03:20:13.660
Are there any other comments to be added?
03:20:13.660 --> 03:20:15.290
Seeing none at this time,
03:20:15.290 --> 03:20:17.860
will the agenda clerk please call the roll?
03:20:18.960 --> 03:20:21.160
For item 34, Commissioner Shiroma?
03:20:22.120 --> 03:20:23.180
Aye.
03:20:23.180 --> 03:20:25.610
Commissioner Guzman Aceves?
03:20:25.610 --> 03:20:26.630
Aye.
03:20:26.630 --> 03:20:28.690
Commissioner Randolph?
03:20:28.690 --> 03:20:29.980
Aye.
03:20:29.980 --> 03:20:31.690
Commissioner Rechtschaffen?
03:20:31.690 --> 03:20:32.850
Aye.
03:20:32.850 --> 03:20:34.630
President Batjer?
03:20:34.630 --> 03:20:35.463
Aye.
03:20:35.463 --> 03:20:36.296
Thank you very much.
03:20:36.296 --> 03:20:38.983
It stands first vote for item 34.
03:20:38.983 --> 03:20:40.340
Moving on.
03:20:40.340 --> 03:20:41.720
Can everyone hear me okay?
03:20:41.720 --> 03:20:44.070
I just heard an odd echo, okay.
03:20:45.140 --> 03:20:47.930
Moving on in the regular agenda.
03:20:47.930 --> 03:20:49.540
Excuse me.
03:20:49.540 --> 03:20:54.500
Item number 37 is Commissioner Rechtschaffen.
03:20:59.311 --> 03:21:00.144
Okay.
03:21:03.013 --> 03:21:07.930
Sorry, I have a tickle in my throat, excuse me.
03:21:09.765 --> 03:21:11.460
Commissioner Rechtschaffen?
03:21:11.460 --> 03:21:12.830
Yes.
03:21:12.830 --> 03:21:16.440
I just got a text that people were having trouble hearing.
03:21:16.440 --> 03:21:20.171
I think that's been resolved, right?
03:21:20.171 --> 03:21:24.910
Yeah, I think so.
03:21:24.910 --> 03:21:28.200
I just got a text from one of my advisors
03:21:28.200 --> 03:21:29.470
that she cannot hear you.
03:21:30.500 --> 03:21:32.200
Okay.
So did you--
03:21:33.264 --> 03:21:34.264
Just me?
03:21:35.318 --> 03:21:36.950
I can hear.
03:21:36.950 --> 03:21:40.400
Okay, Molly can hear and Belinda can hear,
03:21:40.400 --> 03:21:41.700
who are here with me.
03:21:43.431 --> 03:21:46.050
Robert, are you still on the line, can we?
03:21:48.340 --> 03:21:49.670
Can we check the audio?
03:21:50.770 --> 03:21:53.800
My staff is also saying they can hear you.
03:21:53.800 --> 03:21:56.920
They can or cannot, Martha? Yes, okay.
03:21:56.920 --> 03:21:58.770
Yes, we can.
03:21:58.770 --> 03:22:00.732
I can hear you.
My other staff say
03:22:00.732 --> 03:22:04.460
that you can be heard, so I think we're okay.
03:22:04.460 --> 03:22:05.293
Okay.
03:22:07.170 --> 03:22:11.480
Okay, item 37 is an Extension Order dealing with.
03:22:12.496 --> 03:22:15.329
(electronic beep)
03:24:12.724 --> 03:24:16.224
(upbeat electronic music)
03:25:03.094 --> 03:25:05.612
That is correct, President Batjer.
03:25:05.612 --> 03:25:07.680
It is the app monitor, I'm trying to reconnect him
03:25:07.680 --> 03:25:10.080
at this time, I apologize for the inconvenience.
03:25:12.998 --> 03:25:15.831
(electronic beep)
03:26:27.300 --> 03:26:28.550
Are we back up?
03:26:47.080 --> 03:26:51.740
Sorry. (chuckling) We were on mute on the phone, sorry.
03:26:51.740 --> 03:26:54.340
Robert says we can resume, that we're in good shape.
03:26:56.430 --> 03:26:59.090
Cliff, you want to test with your staff, you're good?
03:27:00.330 --> 03:27:01.996
Can you hear me?
03:27:01.996 --> 03:27:04.690
Yes.
03:27:04.690 --> 03:27:05.523
Okay.
03:27:07.050 --> 03:27:09.340
Okay, well, so far so good.
03:27:10.270 --> 03:27:14.080
Okay, we were on item 38, the rail safety,
03:27:14.080 --> 03:27:16.710
and I was just about ready to,
03:27:16.710 --> 03:27:18.370
I was asking if there were any questions
03:27:18.370 --> 03:27:21.760
of Commissioner Randolph, and I saw none.
03:27:21.760 --> 03:27:23.650
I was asking for a vote.
03:27:23.650 --> 03:27:25.720
So could the agenda clerk please call the roll
03:27:25.720 --> 03:27:27.510
on item 38 rail safety.
03:27:28.560 --> 03:27:30.710
On item 38, Commissioner Shiroma?
03:27:31.670 --> 03:27:32.910
Aye.
03:27:32.910 --> 03:27:35.010
Commissioner Guzman Aceves?
03:27:35.010 --> 03:27:36.290
Aye.
03:27:36.290 --> 03:27:38.390
Commissioner Randolph?
03:27:38.390 --> 03:27:39.600
Aye.
03:27:39.600 --> 03:27:41.310
Commissioner Rechtschaffen?
03:27:41.310 --> 03:27:42.590
Yes.
03:27:42.590 --> 03:27:44.670
President Batjer?
03:27:44.670 --> 03:27:45.503
Aye.
03:27:45.503 --> 03:27:46.336
Thank you.
03:27:46.336 --> 03:27:48.620
The vote on item 38 is unanimous.
03:27:48.620 --> 03:27:52.835
Moving on now in the regular agenda to item 39,
03:27:52.835 --> 03:27:55.500
is under the category of energy,
03:27:55.500 --> 03:27:57.580
and that's Commissioner Guzman Aceves.
03:28:00.040 --> 03:28:01.070
Thank you, President Batjer.
03:28:01.070 --> 03:28:03.650
This is an order extending the statutory deadline
03:28:03.650 --> 03:28:05.750
for Liberty's General Rate Case.
03:28:07.420 --> 03:28:11.810
The ALJ has been working on a proposed decision,
03:28:11.810 --> 03:28:14.440
and so I am requesting a short extension of three months
03:28:14.440 --> 03:28:17.950
until August of this year, to ensure there's enough time
03:28:17.950 --> 03:28:19.860
to publish it and get comments.
03:28:22.690 --> 03:28:24.280
Okay. Thank you.
03:28:25.415 --> 03:28:28.793
Are there any questions on number 39?
03:28:31.840 --> 03:28:34.100
Okay, seeing none, will the agenda clerk
03:28:34.100 --> 03:28:35.150
please call the roll?
03:28:36.120 --> 03:28:38.320
For item 39, Commissioner Shiroma?
03:28:39.200 --> 03:28:40.330
Aye.
03:28:40.330 --> 03:28:42.390
Commissioner Guzman Aceves?
03:28:42.390 --> 03:28:43.370
Aye.
03:28:43.370 --> 03:28:45.480
Commissioner Randolph?
03:28:45.480 --> 03:28:46.520
Aye.
03:28:46.520 --> 03:28:48.230
Commissioner Rechtschaffen?
03:28:48.230 --> 03:28:49.360
Aye.
03:28:49.360 --> 03:28:51.410
President Batjer?
03:28:51.410 --> 03:28:52.530
Aye.
03:28:52.530 --> 03:28:53.363
Thank you.
03:28:53.363 --> 03:28:56.070
The vote on item 39 is unanimous.
03:28:56.070 --> 03:29:00.740
We are now moving on to item 48.
03:29:00.740 --> 03:29:03.803
It is I.19-09-016,
03:29:07.220 --> 03:29:11.100
the Reorganization Plan of Pacific Gas and Electric Company.
03:29:11.100 --> 03:29:14.926
This item is a proposed decision approving the conditions
03:29:14.926 --> 03:29:17.860
of PG&E's plan of reorganization
03:29:17.860 --> 03:29:20.880
pursuant to the requirements of AB-1054.
03:29:20.880 --> 03:29:25.430
I am the assigned commissioner and will present.
03:29:25.430 --> 03:29:27.530
Before I get into the specifics
03:29:27.530 --> 03:29:30.040
of what this proposed decision does,
03:29:30.040 --> 03:29:33.070
I want to reflect on what we have heard today
03:29:33.070 --> 03:29:36.450
from the public and how we have arrived where we are.
03:29:36.450 --> 03:29:38.200
As we heard in public comment today,
03:29:38.200 --> 03:29:40.660
and as we have heard numerous times,
03:29:40.660 --> 03:29:44.570
since the 2017 and the 2018 wildfires,
03:29:44.570 --> 03:29:47.480
many people and communities are angry,
03:29:47.480 --> 03:29:50.920
frustrated, and finished with PG&E.
03:29:50.920 --> 03:29:52.940
At times I have felt the same.
03:29:53.835 --> 03:29:57.380
The devastation of losing a loved one
03:29:57.380 --> 03:30:00.720
because of the company's negligence is unfathomable.
03:30:01.700 --> 03:30:05.850
I have thought about those lives and the wildfire victims
03:30:05.850 --> 03:30:08.720
and those homes and businesses that were lost,
03:30:08.720 --> 03:30:11.030
every day since joining the commission.
03:30:13.270 --> 03:30:15.520
I think about the PG&E's responsibility
03:30:15.520 --> 03:30:17.450
to them to do better.
03:30:17.450 --> 03:30:20.280
And my responsibility to them as a regulator,
03:30:20.280 --> 03:30:22.940
to drive PG&E to do far better.
03:30:24.160 --> 03:30:26.220
There are many who doubt and distrust
03:30:26.220 --> 03:30:29.800
PG&E's ability to change in the ways that are needed.
03:30:30.700 --> 03:30:34.280
This distrust has deep roots,
03:30:34.280 --> 03:30:37.010
roots that have been born out of PG&E's inability
03:30:37.010 --> 03:30:41.440
to prioritize the people it serves, and its incessant
03:30:41.440 --> 03:30:45.560
and unstill fulfilled promises to do better tomorrow.
03:30:46.489 --> 03:30:50.770
PG&E is in bankruptcy because of years of mismanagement
03:30:50.770 --> 03:30:54.760
and failure to prioritize its customers' safety,
03:30:54.760 --> 03:30:58.010
a failure that caused catastrophic destruction and death.
03:30:59.080 --> 03:31:02.840
PG&E's years of neglecting to adequately invest
03:31:02.840 --> 03:31:05.970
in its electrical system resulted in wildfires
03:31:05.970 --> 03:31:08.740
that took more than a hundred people's lives,
03:31:08.740 --> 03:31:12.210
and have upended the lives of tens of thousands more.
03:31:13.210 --> 03:31:16.860
Investor-owned utilities have a special privilege in being
03:31:16.860 --> 03:31:20.650
unique providers of essential services to the public.
03:31:20.650 --> 03:31:24.760
With that privilege comes a responsibility to provide safe,
03:31:24.760 --> 03:31:27.610
reliable, and affordable service to customers.
03:31:28.860 --> 03:31:31.760
PG&E has consistently failed to demonstrate that
03:31:31.760 --> 03:31:35.560
it adequately understands this privilege and responsibility.
03:31:36.440 --> 03:31:41.440
It must correct its mistakes and upgrade its infrastructure
03:31:41.750 --> 03:31:45.320
and serve its customers in a way it hasn't ever before.
03:31:46.900 --> 03:31:50.710
With the current public, economic, and social disruptions
03:31:50.710 --> 03:31:54.870
to Californians lives caused by COVID-19 pandemic,
03:31:54.870 --> 03:31:58.650
and with so many people working and learning from home,
03:31:58.650 --> 03:32:01.140
it is more critical than ever
03:32:01.140 --> 03:32:04.280
that PG&E lives up to its contract.
03:32:04.280 --> 03:32:07.450
Part of the first step in delivering on this contract,
03:32:07.450 --> 03:32:11.110
and in transforming to a changed company,
03:32:11.110 --> 03:32:14.771
is taking responsibilities for its failings.
03:32:14.771 --> 03:32:19.060
PG&E, however, when given the opportunity
03:32:19.060 --> 03:32:21.540
has consistently failed to take accountability
03:32:21.540 --> 03:32:24.320
for its safety failings or demonstrate
03:32:24.320 --> 03:32:28.500
that it truly appreciates the level of change needed
03:32:28.500 --> 03:32:31.880
to transform itself into a different company.
03:32:32.750 --> 03:32:37.180
In considering PG&E's proposed plan of reorganization,
03:32:37.180 --> 03:32:40.390
the areas at the front of my mind have been around
03:32:40.390 --> 03:32:44.000
how we impose accountability upon a company
03:32:44.000 --> 03:32:49.000
whose leadership seems exceptionally unwilling or unable
03:32:49.760 --> 03:32:52.360
to take responsibility for its failings,
03:32:52.360 --> 03:32:56.380
and how we impose changes to this kind of leadership,
03:32:56.380 --> 03:32:59.110
to have the vision to change this company
03:32:59.110 --> 03:33:02.500
into the type of company the people of California deserve.
03:33:03.400 --> 03:33:06.920
Today's proposed decision puts in place requirements
03:33:06.920 --> 03:33:10.660
for additional accountability and mandates leadership change
03:33:10.660 --> 03:33:13.020
and revised management structure.
03:33:13.020 --> 03:33:15.110
But only so much can be imposed
03:33:15.110 --> 03:33:17.930
on this company externally, as regulators.
03:33:18.840 --> 03:33:20.730
We have to put in the guide posts,
03:33:20.730 --> 03:33:24.070
we have put the guidepost in place.
03:33:24.070 --> 03:33:28.171
But PG&E needs to own its own transformation.
03:33:28.171 --> 03:33:32.200
It needs to transform into a well-run company
03:33:32.200 --> 03:33:35.840
that has at its core, the safety, caring,
03:33:35.840 --> 03:33:38.700
and knowledge of its customers.
03:33:38.700 --> 03:33:39.960
This takes leadership.
03:33:41.000 --> 03:33:43.540
Leadership with a vision and discipline
03:33:43.540 --> 03:33:46.140
to transform the company into a model
03:33:46.140 --> 03:33:48.330
of good corporate citizenship,
03:33:48.330 --> 03:33:52.610
where Main Street is far more important than Wall Street.
03:33:53.720 --> 03:33:57.430
leadership with a vision, to see and achieve a future
03:33:57.430 --> 03:34:01.580
where the customers applaud a reliable, affordable,
03:34:01.580 --> 03:34:05.460
clean energy they receive for the bills they pay.
03:34:05.460 --> 03:34:07.950
Leadership whose goal is not merely
03:34:07.950 --> 03:34:10.000
to improve its safety culture,
03:34:10.000 --> 03:34:13.060
but to make it the best run utility in this country.
03:34:14.070 --> 03:34:17.550
And this transformed company must move
03:34:17.550 --> 03:34:20.040
from one that is held tightly in the grip
03:34:20.040 --> 03:34:23.800
of continual correction of failures,
03:34:23.800 --> 03:34:27.500
to one that is a model company that is respected
03:34:27.500 --> 03:34:30.480
for how it serves its customers and its community.
03:34:31.360 --> 03:34:35.090
In today's proposed decision, we deploy a set
03:34:35.090 --> 03:34:38.890
of regulatory tools to help drive this company forward,
03:34:38.890 --> 03:34:43.890
but PG&E needs to embrace the need for fundamental change.
03:34:44.250 --> 03:34:47.310
Turning to the element of this proposed decision.
03:34:47.310 --> 03:34:49.510
The proposed decision makes a number
03:34:49.510 --> 03:34:51.649
of important determinations.
03:34:51.649 --> 03:34:55.060
But the main element I would like to highlight today,
03:34:55.060 --> 03:34:58.440
are the ones that I believe go most to the heart
03:34:58.440 --> 03:35:01.130
of what is sorely needed at PG&E.
03:35:01.130 --> 03:35:03.640
Leadership change and accountability.
03:35:04.860 --> 03:35:08.200
Through this proposed decision we are requiring
03:35:08.200 --> 03:35:12.680
a transformed board of directors and leadership structure.
03:35:12.680 --> 03:35:16.056
Specifically the proposed decision requires a reorientation
03:35:16.056 --> 03:35:20.670
of the structure of PG&E's management and board of directors
03:35:20.670 --> 03:35:23.820
to create further safe accountability
03:35:23.820 --> 03:35:27.680
and better representation of PG&E's customers.
03:35:27.680 --> 03:35:30.540
The board that is in place, they will not be the board
03:35:30.540 --> 03:35:32.950
that is going to change this company.
03:35:32.950 --> 03:35:35.320
PG&E needs a new board of directors
03:35:35.320 --> 03:35:38.290
that better represents and understands its customers,
03:35:38.290 --> 03:35:40.860
and the importance and value of safety.
03:35:40.860 --> 03:35:43.770
The proposed decision put requirements in place
03:35:43.770 --> 03:35:47.150
to change the board makeup so it aligns with this objective.
03:35:48.100 --> 03:35:50.150
The proposed decision also requires
03:35:50.150 --> 03:35:52.300
regional restructuring of the company
03:35:52.300 --> 03:35:54.960
into local operating regions.
03:35:54.960 --> 03:35:57.200
This shift to local operating regions
03:35:57.200 --> 03:36:01.330
is intended to change PG&E's management culture,
03:36:01.330 --> 03:36:04.340
to bring management closer to its customers
03:36:04.340 --> 03:36:06.390
so that the company better reflects
03:36:06.390 --> 03:36:10.510
the diverse values and the needs of the people it services
03:36:10.510 --> 03:36:13.530
across a large part of this state.
03:36:13.530 --> 03:36:16.140
The transition to local operating regions
03:36:16.140 --> 03:36:17.730
will start immediately.
03:36:17.730 --> 03:36:20.110
The proposed decision would have PG&E submit
03:36:20.110 --> 03:36:22.060
its regional restructuring plans
03:36:22.060 --> 03:36:25.890
to the commission by June 30 of this year.
03:36:25.890 --> 03:36:28.330
And in that plan, PG&E will need to address
03:36:28.330 --> 03:36:32.630
how its regional restructuring plan will improve safety
03:36:32.630 --> 03:36:35.040
and will impact its most vulnerable customers.
03:36:36.500 --> 03:36:38.720
The proposed decision also puts in place
03:36:38.720 --> 03:36:42.990
new accountability tools to ensure PG&E is held accountable
03:36:42.990 --> 03:36:45.750
for maintaining a culture and a company
03:36:45.750 --> 03:36:47.260
that delivers on its safety
03:36:47.260 --> 03:36:50.080
and its reliability responsibilities.
03:36:50.080 --> 03:36:53.000
Specifically, proposed decision establishes
03:36:53.000 --> 03:36:56.940
a six step enhanced oversight enforcement process
03:36:56.940 --> 03:37:00.570
that will escalate consequences upon PG&E
03:37:00.570 --> 03:37:03.530
if it fails to improve its safety performance.
03:37:03.530 --> 03:37:07.540
The six step oversight process provides clear guidelines
03:37:07.540 --> 03:37:10.602
on what safety failings would move PG&E
03:37:10.602 --> 03:37:13.110
into the enhanced oversight process
03:37:13.110 --> 03:37:17.750
and provides clear guidelines on what PG&E would need to do
03:37:17.750 --> 03:37:21.950
to demonstrate progress for curing any failure.
03:37:22.820 --> 03:37:26.340
It also provides clear expectations on the steps
03:37:26.340 --> 03:37:31.010
for revoking PG&E's authority to operate if needed.
03:37:31.010 --> 03:37:33.620
the proposed decision also puts into place
03:37:33.620 --> 03:37:37.430
an ongoing independent third party safety monitor
03:37:37.430 --> 03:37:41.560
who reports to the CPUC to oversee PG&E
03:37:41.560 --> 03:37:44.510
after its current criminal probation ends,
03:37:44.510 --> 03:37:48.530
and requires the development of comprehensive metrics,
03:37:48.530 --> 03:37:53.520
to monitor and measure PG&E's safety and operations ongoing.
03:37:55.200 --> 03:37:58.220
In addition to the conditions I just described,
03:37:58.220 --> 03:38:00.450
which are intended to drive PG&E
03:38:00.450 --> 03:38:05.110
to fundamentally change the way it operates as a company,
03:38:05.110 --> 03:38:07.900
the proposed decision also makes determinations
03:38:07.900 --> 03:38:11.380
to protect rate payers.
03:38:11.380 --> 03:38:16.380
It requires PG&E to honor its commitment not to burden
03:38:16.480 --> 03:38:19.960
rate payers with the costs of the pre 2019 fires.
03:38:19.960 --> 03:38:22.580
But rather propose a securitization
03:38:22.580 --> 03:38:26.420
that must be rate neutral to rate payers,
03:38:26.420 --> 03:38:29.270
to refinance those costs with rate revenue,
03:38:29.270 --> 03:38:32.440
as long as it provides shareholder backed offsets.
03:38:33.350 --> 03:38:36.090
And it may say determination
03:38:36.090 --> 03:38:38.380
that PG&E's plan of reorganization
03:38:38.380 --> 03:38:42.130
is rate neutral on average to PG&E's rate payers,
03:38:42.130 --> 03:38:44.510
which is vital to ensuring rate payers
03:38:44.510 --> 03:38:47.280
are not held responsible for the costs
03:38:47.280 --> 03:38:49.770
of PG&E's exit from bankruptcy,
03:38:49.770 --> 03:38:54.280
and is a critical determination under AB-1054
03:38:54.280 --> 03:38:58.160
in order for PG&E to be eligible to participate
03:38:58.160 --> 03:39:01.800
in the going forward state wildfire fund.
03:39:02.840 --> 03:39:06.050
I wanted to also identify that this proposed decision
03:39:06.050 --> 03:39:09.520
does not mark the end of our work to focus on ensuring
03:39:09.520 --> 03:39:11.900
PG&E makes significant improvements
03:39:11.900 --> 03:39:15.558
in how it's prioritized customers and safety,
03:39:15.558 --> 03:39:19.020
how it prioritizes customers' safety.
03:39:19.020 --> 03:39:22.810
Work will be ongoing in our safety culture proceedings
03:39:22.810 --> 03:39:25.940
and other new proceedings to further develop safety
03:39:25.940 --> 03:39:29.290
and operational metrics against PG&E's performance.
03:39:29.290 --> 03:39:32.090
We'll be judge as well as to refine
03:39:32.090 --> 03:39:34.640
its executive compensation structures.
03:39:35.880 --> 03:39:38.200
As I stated earlier, this is a company
03:39:38.200 --> 03:39:40.910
that has consistently failed to recognize
03:39:40.910 --> 03:39:43.230
the privilege and responsibility
03:39:43.230 --> 03:39:47.220
that comes with being a unique provider of utility services,
03:39:47.220 --> 03:39:51.490
and is a company that, in my opinion, has yet to demonstrate
03:39:51.490 --> 03:39:53.640
it understands that the path to being
03:39:53.640 --> 03:39:57.660
a successful company is to focus on its customers.
03:39:57.660 --> 03:40:00.330
I hope PG&E can demonstrate that it understands
03:40:00.330 --> 03:40:03.060
as much as it emerges from bankruptcy,
03:40:03.060 --> 03:40:06.750
and I, for one intend to keep a watchful eye
03:40:06.750 --> 03:40:08.780
for the evidence that it does.
03:40:08.780 --> 03:40:10.500
But watchful eyes are not enough.
03:40:10.500 --> 03:40:13.166
It needs to come from within the company.
03:40:13.166 --> 03:40:18.166
And we at the regulatory body need to hold PG&E accountable.
03:40:18.876 --> 03:40:21.880
A lot remains to be seen, but I feel confident
03:40:21.880 --> 03:40:24.160
that today's decision put requirements in place
03:40:24.160 --> 03:40:28.040
to put PG&E on the track of transformation
03:40:28.040 --> 03:40:31.380
and to focus on providing safe, reliable,
03:40:31.380 --> 03:40:33.880
and affordable service to its customers
03:40:33.880 --> 03:40:37.830
and to achieve our state's clean energy goals.
03:40:37.830 --> 03:40:41.620
I understand that there will be some who disagree with
03:40:41.620 --> 03:40:44.960
or feel frustrated with the proposed decision.
03:40:44.960 --> 03:40:47.480
But today's decision is an important milestone
03:40:47.480 --> 03:40:50.970
to achieving the completion of the bankruptcy process
03:40:50.970 --> 03:40:54.190
and the compensation of the wildfire victims
03:40:54.190 --> 03:40:59.190
impacted by the wildfires of 2017 and 2018.
03:40:59.370 --> 03:41:02.210
Before I turn to my fellow commissioners for comments,
03:41:02.210 --> 03:41:05.490
I want to thank the group of extremely talented
03:41:05.490 --> 03:41:09.200
and committed public servants who worked on this proceeding.
03:41:10.050 --> 03:41:12.710
I want to thank the Administrative Law Judge Peter Allen,
03:41:12.710 --> 03:41:16.370
to whom I extend my sincere admiration and gratitude
03:41:17.596 --> 03:41:20.260
for expertly managing this complex case
03:41:20.260 --> 03:41:22.120
and aggressive timeline.
03:41:22.120 --> 03:41:24.570
It has truly been a pleasure to work with you
03:41:24.570 --> 03:41:28.050
on this complicated case, and I thank you for your rigor
03:41:28.050 --> 03:41:29.550
and your collaborative spirit.
03:41:30.430 --> 03:41:31.970
I want to particularly thank
03:41:31.970 --> 03:41:34.650
my Bagley-Keene partner, Commissioner Rechtschaffen,
03:41:34.650 --> 03:41:37.510
and his Chief of Staff, Sean Simon,
03:41:37.510 --> 03:41:40.770
who have been insightful and cooperative partners
03:41:40.770 --> 03:41:44.580
and indeed have been true partners in every way,
03:41:44.580 --> 03:41:48.180
early mornings to late nights, weekends and holidays.
03:41:48.180 --> 03:41:50.520
I can't thank you enough for all the hard work
03:41:50.520 --> 03:41:54.010
and support and learning you have given me.
03:41:54.010 --> 03:41:55.780
I could not imagine having worked
03:41:55.780 --> 03:41:58.498
through many of these difficult issues without you.
03:41:58.498 --> 03:42:02.620
The Commission's General Counsel Arocles Aguilar
03:42:02.620 --> 03:42:05.850
and her excellent team of Geoff Dryvynsyde
03:42:05.850 --> 03:42:10.050
and Candice Morey and Brandon Gerstle.
03:42:10.050 --> 03:42:12.740
The energies have been magnificent.
03:42:12.740 --> 03:42:14.570
I cannot thank them enough.
03:42:15.421 --> 03:42:20.230
Again, many hours together with Arocles' staff and Candace.
03:42:20.230 --> 03:42:22.430
And I thank them profusely.
03:42:22.430 --> 03:42:23.420
The Energy Division,
03:42:23.420 --> 03:42:26.420
including Deputy Executive Director Ed Randolph,
03:42:26.420 --> 03:42:30.970
and his staff, Dorothy Duda, Michael Colvin, Kelsey Choing.
03:42:30.970 --> 03:42:33.260
And the Safety Policy Division, including
03:42:33.260 --> 03:42:38.260
Deputy Executive Director Rachel Peterson and her staff.
03:42:38.622 --> 03:42:42.890
And I also would like to thank my fellow commissioners,
03:42:44.080 --> 03:42:46.850
Commissioner Randolph, Commissioner Guzman Aceves,
03:42:46.850 --> 03:42:50.720
and Commissioner Shiroma, for their deep engagement
03:42:50.720 --> 03:42:53.420
in this proceeding through every milestone.
03:42:53.420 --> 03:42:58.420
Much of your thinking is here and presented in this PD.
03:42:59.220 --> 03:43:02.810
And I can't thank you enough for your incredibly helpful
03:43:02.810 --> 03:43:05.450
and insightful guidance.
03:43:05.450 --> 03:43:06.650
I finally would like to thank
03:43:06.650 --> 03:43:09.340
my Chief of Staff, Shannon O'Rourke,
03:43:09.340 --> 03:43:12.010
and my former Chief of Staff, James Ralph,
03:43:12.010 --> 03:43:13.640
who contributed to so much
03:43:13.640 --> 03:43:15.690
at the foundation of this proceeding
03:43:15.690 --> 03:43:19.270
and eventually the outcome of this proposed decision.
03:43:19.270 --> 03:43:21.430
With that, my fellow commissioners,
03:43:21.430 --> 03:43:25.790
I ask for your support for item 48.
03:43:26.970 --> 03:43:27.803
Thank you.
03:43:29.330 --> 03:43:30.930
Yes, Commissioner Rechtschaffen?
03:43:32.090 --> 03:43:34.232
Thank you very much, President Batjer.
03:43:34.232 --> 03:43:36.300
Thank you for your kind words
03:43:36.300 --> 03:43:41.300
and for your steadfast and exemplary leadership.
03:43:42.610 --> 03:43:46.130
You didn't have a chance to blink when you came to the CPUC
03:43:46.130 --> 03:43:49.180
before this bankruptcy proceeding started,
03:43:49.180 --> 03:43:53.320
and you handled it with unbelievable grace and skill.
03:43:53.320 --> 03:43:55.740
And we all are benefiting from that.
03:43:55.740 --> 03:43:59.530
And I want to thank you for your very eloquent introduction,
03:43:59.530 --> 03:44:03.730
setting the context here, the enormous stakes,
03:44:03.730 --> 03:44:05.622
and the extraordinary challenge,
03:44:05.622 --> 03:44:09.070
given PG&E's past record.
03:44:09.070 --> 03:44:11.180
I won't repeat what you said.
03:44:11.180 --> 03:44:13.570
I do want to highlight a few things.
03:44:13.570 --> 03:44:18.115
And as you noted, and as we talked today,
03:44:18.115 --> 03:44:21.980
the comments from the public are testament
03:44:21.980 --> 03:44:26.808
to the powerful impact that utilities have on our lives.
03:44:26.808 --> 03:44:30.087
And the voices we heard today reflect
03:44:30.087 --> 03:44:34.660
many other Californians, many other customers.
03:44:34.660 --> 03:44:37.020
And to those folks who commented,
03:44:37.020 --> 03:44:39.120
I want to say, we've consistently heard you
03:44:39.120 --> 03:44:42.520
over the past 18 months at our many meetings
03:44:42.520 --> 03:44:46.350
around the state, our virtual meetings in San Francisco,
03:44:46.350 --> 03:44:50.760
calling for change, sharing your ideas, your frustrations,
03:44:50.760 --> 03:44:55.490
your anger, your concerns, and your devastating losses.
03:44:55.490 --> 03:44:59.294
And they are devastating, as President Batjer said.
03:44:59.294 --> 03:45:03.570
Probably for me, the most heart rendering meeting we had
03:45:03.570 --> 03:45:05.650
was last October in Redding where we heard
03:45:05.650 --> 03:45:08.450
from those devastated by the Camp Fire,
03:45:08.450 --> 03:45:12.230
who also experienced impacts from the power shutoffs.
03:45:13.760 --> 03:45:17.590
That meeting was particularly haunting for me.
03:45:19.340 --> 03:45:22.900
Having said that, bankruptcies are almost always
03:45:22.900 --> 03:45:27.263
messy and complicated, and by definition,
03:45:27.263 --> 03:45:31.060
resolved in ways that do not satisfy all the parties.
03:45:31.960 --> 03:45:35.010
And this decision is no different.
03:45:35.010 --> 03:45:39.340
It's not perfect from any stakeholder's perspective.
03:45:40.370 --> 03:45:44.129
I support it because it provides changes
03:45:44.129 --> 03:45:48.860
needed to achieve a reformed PG&E.
03:45:48.860 --> 03:45:51.350
And it does achieve a number
03:45:51.350 --> 03:45:53.090
of critically important objectives
03:45:54.020 --> 03:45:57.660
that President Batjer talked about, protecting rate payers,
03:45:57.660 --> 03:46:01.437
compensating wildfire victims, improving PG&E's safety,
03:46:01.437 --> 03:46:06.060
enhancing the PUC's oversight and enforcement,
03:46:06.060 --> 03:46:10.530
and also providing a path for PG&E's financial viability.
03:46:10.530 --> 03:46:12.630
And of overriding importance,
03:46:12.630 --> 03:46:15.300
until this bankruptcy is resolved,
03:46:15.300 --> 03:46:17.530
no victims can receive compensation.
03:46:17.530 --> 03:46:21.882
So what we do here is critical for moving forward.
03:46:21.882 --> 03:46:25.210
Probably the most important thing that the public
03:46:25.210 --> 03:46:28.090
and legislators want to know, and rightly so,
03:46:28.090 --> 03:46:31.630
is whether the PG&E that emerges from bankruptcy
03:46:31.630 --> 03:46:33.600
will be different than the prior company
03:46:33.600 --> 03:46:37.560
that President Batjer so eloquently described.
03:46:37.560 --> 03:46:42.140
And whether PG&E indeed will be safer and more reliable
03:46:42.140 --> 03:46:45.950
and better focused on consumer welfare?
03:46:46.990 --> 03:46:49.270
They also want to know how our oversight
03:46:49.270 --> 03:46:50.870
and regulation could be different
03:46:50.870 --> 03:46:53.240
so that PG&E will be more accountable than in the past.
03:46:53.240 --> 03:46:56.050
We heard that repeatedly, today and in other meetings.
03:46:57.640 --> 03:47:00.800
The bankruptcy order includes a number of elements
03:47:00.800 --> 03:47:03.090
that are designed to change the culture
03:47:03.090 --> 03:47:04.810
and operations of the company.
03:47:05.840 --> 03:47:08.430
And it's also very important to keep in mind
03:47:08.430 --> 03:47:11.920
that these steps are only one of a series of actions
03:47:11.920 --> 03:47:15.710
that we are taking to improve PG&E's safety performance
03:47:15.710 --> 03:47:17.580
and enhance our oversight of the company.
03:47:17.580 --> 03:47:21.480
Those will be ongoing, as President Batjer mentioned.
03:47:21.480 --> 03:47:24.090
Some of the key elements of this order
03:47:24.090 --> 03:47:27.490
include, as President Batjer said, a new board structure,
03:47:27.490 --> 03:47:31.550
and that includes a minimum of half of board members
03:47:31.550 --> 03:47:33.974
being residents of California, with a preference
03:47:33.974 --> 03:47:37.260
for those living in PG&E's service territory.
03:47:38.770 --> 03:47:42.320
And then of critical importance is this still enhanced
03:47:42.320 --> 03:47:44.170
oversight and enforcement scheme.
03:47:45.480 --> 03:47:50.480
And this puts at risk PG&E's license to operate
03:47:52.216 --> 03:47:56.480
if it causes fires like it did in 2017 or 2018,
03:47:57.350 --> 03:48:00.460
or otherwise performs poorly.
03:48:01.740 --> 03:48:05.070
This process, it puts structure around
03:48:05.070 --> 03:48:07.977
the authority we already have to review,
03:48:07.977 --> 03:48:12.160
and if necessary, to revoke a license
03:48:12.160 --> 03:48:15.370
or condition a license that PG&E has.
03:48:16.300 --> 03:48:18.940
It also gives some predictability to PG&E,
03:48:18.940 --> 03:48:20.690
some transparency to the public.
03:48:21.550 --> 03:48:23.840
I think it dovetails well with
03:48:23.840 --> 03:48:26.700
Governor Newsome's Plan B legislation,
03:48:26.700 --> 03:48:31.160
And it sends a very strong signal to PG&E
03:48:31.160 --> 03:48:34.240
that a CPCN, their license to operate,
03:48:34.240 --> 03:48:36.600
and to serve customers, is a privilege.
03:48:36.600 --> 03:48:38.320
It's a privilege, and it's not a right,
03:48:38.320 --> 03:48:41.960
it can be taken away if PG&E doesn't perform well.
03:48:43.390 --> 03:48:45.700
The decision establishes an outside
03:48:45.700 --> 03:48:50.700
independent safety monitor that will start
03:48:50.970 --> 03:48:55.620
once the independent federal monitor leaves and is done
03:48:55.620 --> 03:48:58.860
with his work, and that will be a seamless process.
03:49:00.094 --> 03:49:01.620
A new operation with safety metrics,
03:49:01.620 --> 03:49:03.120
as President Batjer mentioned.
03:49:04.613 --> 03:49:06.940
I want to mention a couple of other things.
03:49:06.940 --> 03:49:10.710
The decision establishes a strong linkage
03:49:10.710 --> 03:49:14.755
between the compensation that executives earn
03:49:14.755 --> 03:49:18.900
and safety performance, as well as a link between
03:49:18.900 --> 03:49:22.580
compensation and customer engagement and satisfaction.
03:49:23.550 --> 03:49:26.140
And that link will be based on clear metrics.
03:49:27.290 --> 03:49:31.240
This includes a couple of items worth highlighting.
03:49:31.240 --> 03:49:34.740
One is that a significant portion of compensation
03:49:34.740 --> 03:49:37.350
will be linked to long term performance
03:49:37.350 --> 03:49:39.590
and defers for at least three years.
03:49:40.752 --> 03:49:44.740
There is also a presumption, in the compensation team,
03:49:44.740 --> 03:49:49.420
that a material portion of compensation shall be withheld
03:49:49.420 --> 03:49:54.320
if PG&E's ignition is the source of a catastrophic wildfire.
03:49:55.640 --> 03:49:57.270
And there are also provisions that allow
03:49:57.270 --> 03:50:00.940
for the cancellation of severance pay
03:50:00.940 --> 03:50:04.660
in the event that PG&E is convicted of a felony
03:50:04.660 --> 03:50:07.400
related to health and safety or financial misconduct.
03:50:08.580 --> 03:50:12.720
Quite simply, if PG&E is convicted of a felony,
03:50:12.720 --> 03:50:16.350
it's a horrible year for the utility,
03:50:16.350 --> 03:50:18.100
and executives should not walk away
03:50:18.100 --> 03:50:20.510
with handsome bonuses in that situation.
03:50:22.080 --> 03:50:25.980
Finally, that the plan, as President Batjer noted,
03:50:25.980 --> 03:50:28.285
includes the requirement for PG&E
03:50:28.285 --> 03:50:30.510
to create local operating regions.
03:50:30.510 --> 03:50:33.389
I want to note that as part of this plan,
03:50:33.389 --> 03:50:36.410
the decision requires PG&E to discuss
03:50:36.410 --> 03:50:38.860
how the plan for regionalization
03:50:38.860 --> 03:50:42.940
will impact low income and disadvantaged communities,
03:50:42.940 --> 03:50:44.530
along with hard to reach customers
03:50:44.530 --> 03:50:45.570
and communities that have been
03:50:45.570 --> 03:50:48.900
subjected to wildfire and or power shutoffs.
03:50:50.070 --> 03:50:52.670
And I'd also like to thank, as I mentioned,
03:50:52.670 --> 03:50:55.430
there are numerous other efforts underway
03:50:55.430 --> 03:50:57.880
to change PG&E's safety performance.
03:50:57.880 --> 03:50:59.940
We heard some of that in our earlier discussion
03:50:59.940 --> 03:51:03.080
about the new PSPS guidelines.
03:51:03.080 --> 03:51:06.758
There are much more stringent wildfire mitigation measures
03:51:06.758 --> 03:51:09.090
that we've been working on, including the adoption
03:51:09.090 --> 03:51:10.850
of a maturity matrix model.
03:51:11.840 --> 03:51:16.840
As part of the order resolving the 2017 and 2018 wildfires,
03:51:19.060 --> 03:51:21.930
PG&E is required to conduct a root cause analysis
03:51:21.930 --> 03:51:24.790
for each of the fires it caused, and to fund
03:51:24.790 --> 03:51:29.090
necessary system enhancements identified in those analyses.
03:51:30.060 --> 03:51:34.250
Also, we have an ongoing safety code proceedings
03:51:34.250 --> 03:51:37.310
for PG&E that looks at a broad set of systemic issues.
03:51:38.228 --> 03:51:40.820
I'm just gonna take one moment to express my view
03:51:40.820 --> 03:51:43.170
that as part of the state's culture,
03:51:43.170 --> 03:51:46.390
we should continue to explore the concept
03:51:46.390 --> 03:51:50.310
of linking PG&E's earnings to its performance,
03:51:50.310 --> 03:51:53.660
as judged by safety and operational metrics.
03:51:55.000 --> 03:51:59.060
Admittedly it's complex, it'd take time to do well.
03:51:59.060 --> 03:52:00.610
But I think it's worth pursuing,
03:52:00.610 --> 03:52:04.624
and will send another strong signal that things are not
03:52:04.624 --> 03:52:09.510
business as usual for PG&E going forward.
03:52:09.510 --> 03:52:12.570
Performance based regulation can be an important tool
03:52:12.570 --> 03:52:15.680
to promote improved utility performance,
03:52:15.680 --> 03:52:18.010
including in the area of state that were just noted.
03:52:18.010 --> 03:52:20.932
There's a growing interest in this concept in recent years,
03:52:20.932 --> 03:52:23.840
legislation's been passed and there's like 10 other states
03:52:23.840 --> 03:52:26.383
directing PUCs to explore this concept,
03:52:26.383 --> 03:52:29.240
and our neighbors in Colorado, Nevada, and Hawaii,
03:52:29.240 --> 03:52:31.530
all have open dockets on this.
03:52:31.530 --> 03:52:33.500
Some states such as Illinois and Ohio
03:52:33.500 --> 03:52:36.570
have already adopted performance based benefit,
03:52:36.570 --> 03:52:39.020
including explicit links to safety.
03:52:40.289 --> 03:52:43.740
In many other aspects, the decision, as you've heard,
03:52:43.740 --> 03:52:46.110
I want to reemphasize just one more,
03:52:46.110 --> 03:52:48.020
that's for the rate payers.
03:52:48.020 --> 03:52:51.440
As President Batjer notes, the decision ensures rate payers
03:52:51.440 --> 03:52:55.000
will not bear increased costs as a result of the bankruptcy.
03:52:55.000 --> 03:52:57.570
About half of PG&E's existing debt
03:52:57.570 --> 03:53:00.230
will be refinanced at lower interest rates,
03:53:00.230 --> 03:53:04.550
and that means a cost savings to rate payers.
03:53:04.550 --> 03:53:07.290
PG&E's professional fees related to the bankruptcy,
03:53:07.290 --> 03:53:10.210
as well as those at CPUC, will be paid
03:53:10.210 --> 03:53:12.220
by its shareholders and not rate payers.
03:53:13.480 --> 03:53:15.790
And PG&E's securitization application,
03:53:15.790 --> 03:53:18.700
to recover wildfire costs, which is not part
03:53:18.700 --> 03:53:22.140
of this bankruptcy plan, also will be very useful.
03:53:22.140 --> 03:53:25.150
PG&E has committed that, that they estimated
03:53:25.150 --> 03:53:29.470
that all costs of securitization will be offset.
03:53:30.993 --> 03:53:33.220
I want to respond, finally, to a comment we received
03:53:33.220 --> 03:53:37.070
from the CPUC's Disadvantaged Communities Advisory Board,
03:53:37.070 --> 03:53:38.560
requesting that it be engaged
03:53:38.560 --> 03:53:42.838
in any future activity to reorganize PG&E.
03:53:42.838 --> 03:53:46.290
We're hoping this reorganization is successful.
03:53:46.290 --> 03:53:47.800
We don't have to go down that path,
03:53:47.800 --> 03:53:50.730
but I will say that if and when we do, there will be
03:53:50.730 --> 03:53:54.020
many opportunities for public engagement that will include
03:53:54.020 --> 03:53:56.270
the Disadvantaged Communities Advisory Group.
03:53:57.406 --> 03:54:00.410
I want to close with a note of gratitude
03:54:00.410 --> 03:54:03.330
for PG&E's thousands of employees,
03:54:03.330 --> 03:54:04.880
for staying committed to their work
03:54:04.880 --> 03:54:07.230
through this time of great uncertainty.
03:54:07.230 --> 03:54:10.520
And even public attacks, it's very difficult,
03:54:10.520 --> 03:54:12.570
but we've all greatly benefited for this.
03:54:13.650 --> 03:54:16.430
With PG&E's leadership, as President Batjer said,
03:54:16.430 --> 03:54:18.900
this is the moment to step up.
03:54:18.900 --> 03:54:23.670
This is the time for a PG&E to emerge from bankruptcy
03:54:23.670 --> 03:54:28.200
that must be reborn, with its safety as its top priority.
03:54:28.200 --> 03:54:30.454
Your future depends on it, really.
03:54:30.454 --> 03:54:35.366
Nothing more or less that that.
03:54:35.366 --> 03:54:39.140
I want to echo my great appreciation to the staff
03:54:39.140 --> 03:54:40.790
that President Batjer mentioned,
03:54:40.790 --> 03:54:44.536
the Legal staff, Energy Division, ALJ Allen,
03:54:44.536 --> 03:54:47.550
President Batjer and her staff.
03:54:47.550 --> 03:54:50.460
And I do want to take the privilege of the floor
03:54:50.460 --> 03:54:53.680
just to thank, one of the unsung heroes,
03:54:53.680 --> 03:54:55.780
although President Batjer kindly states,
03:54:55.780 --> 03:54:58.920
which is Sean Simon, my Chief of Staff,
03:54:58.920 --> 03:55:01.020
who really was borrowed by the commission
03:55:01.020 --> 03:55:04.130
to become the administrative point person
03:55:04.130 --> 03:55:06.590
for this bankruptcy decision,
03:55:06.590 --> 03:55:10.520
and all other bankruptcy related issues.
03:55:11.366 --> 03:55:13.340
And he's just done an extraordinary job.
03:55:13.340 --> 03:55:16.920
He's incredibly organized, super proactive,
03:55:16.920 --> 03:55:20.460
always thinking ahead, extremely conscientious.
03:55:20.460 --> 03:55:23.600
He took whatever people asked him to do, whenever,
03:55:23.600 --> 03:55:26.850
whatever, in whatever form, he did it.
03:55:26.850 --> 03:55:29.820
And on top of that, his kindness
03:55:29.820 --> 03:55:33.830
and thoughtfulness around it.
03:55:33.830 --> 03:55:35.990
Even though you've already thanked him,
03:55:35.990 --> 03:55:38.305
I want to just thank him again.
03:55:38.305 --> 03:55:43.305
And I do thank you for your work across the board,
03:55:43.460 --> 03:55:46.870
President Batjer, and your strong leadership throughout.
03:55:46.870 --> 03:55:47.703
Thank you.
03:55:49.050 --> 03:55:50.750
Commissioner Rechtschaffen, thank you very much.
03:55:50.750 --> 03:55:55.270
There is not enough thanks in the world for Sean.
03:55:55.270 --> 03:55:56.910
So thank you for underscoring that.
03:55:56.910 --> 03:56:00.730
And so many others, if I start naming again,
03:56:00.730 --> 03:56:03.370
I will get in trouble because I want to underscore
03:56:03.370 --> 03:56:05.870
that when James Ralph left my staff,
03:56:05.870 --> 03:56:08.600
Sean picked up an awful lot of work.
03:56:08.600 --> 03:56:11.715
And I was borrowing Sean too.
03:56:11.715 --> 03:56:14.820
Not only just the Commissioner, but I too.
03:56:14.820 --> 03:56:18.380
So thanks so much, so many times.
03:56:18.380 --> 03:56:19.820
Okay, Commissioner Randolph?
03:56:21.510 --> 03:56:22.554
All right.
03:56:22.554 --> 03:56:25.170
First, let me thank you,
03:56:25.170 --> 03:56:27.540
President Batjer and Commissioner Rechtschaffen
03:56:27.540 --> 03:56:30.930
for putting so much work into the proceedings,
03:56:30.930 --> 03:56:32.970
hours and hours and hours.
03:56:32.970 --> 03:56:37.970
And I cannot say how much I respect your careful diligence,
03:56:37.990 --> 03:56:41.140
thoroughness and diplomacy in dealing with
03:56:41.140 --> 03:56:44.420
this really difficult, difficult task.
03:56:44.420 --> 03:56:46.740
I'd like to thank all of the parties
03:56:46.740 --> 03:56:49.360
and members of the public who put time and effort
03:56:49.360 --> 03:56:51.470
into participating in this proceeding
03:56:51.470 --> 03:56:53.730
and commenting on the issues.
03:56:53.730 --> 03:56:56.490
As Commissioner Rechtschaffen noted,
03:56:56.490 --> 03:56:59.770
over the last 18 to 24 months,
03:56:59.770 --> 03:57:04.747
we have heard a lot of very difficult stories
03:57:05.620 --> 03:57:09.500
and concerns from all over California.
03:57:09.500 --> 03:57:13.580
And we really do listen to those concerns
03:57:13.580 --> 03:57:16.840
and take them to heart and keep them in mind
03:57:16.840 --> 03:57:19.930
as we're trying to weigh these difficult decisions.
03:57:21.820 --> 03:57:25.920
To my mind, the two most important features of this decision
03:57:25.920 --> 03:57:29.170
are getting the fire victims compensated
03:57:29.170 --> 03:57:33.120
as quickly as possible and ensuring that we have
03:57:33.120 --> 03:57:35.947
a robust escalating enforcement process
03:57:35.947 --> 03:57:39.570
that as Commissioner Rechtschaffen noted,
03:57:39.570 --> 03:57:44.570
put the framework around our existing authority to review
03:57:44.669 --> 03:57:49.230
and potentially revoke the company's right to operate.
03:57:49.230 --> 03:57:54.159
So having a structure and metrics around that
03:57:54.159 --> 03:57:57.826
is a key step forward that will help us
03:57:57.826 --> 03:58:02.470
in changing fundamentally the oversight of the company.
03:58:04.723 --> 03:58:07.577
And then I just want to talk a little bit about
03:58:07.577 --> 03:58:11.320
some of the discussion we heard today from the commenters.
03:58:12.221 --> 03:58:16.860
As Gina Berrigan stated very succinctly,
03:58:16.860 --> 03:58:19.100
we need a different PG&E.
03:58:19.100 --> 03:58:23.040
I think this decision moves us in that direction.
03:58:23.040 --> 03:58:25.642
And as President Batjer said,
03:58:25.642 --> 03:58:28.340
we absolutely need the company to step up.
03:58:28.340 --> 03:58:32.070
But the other thing we heard from commenters was
03:58:32.070 --> 03:58:35.640
that they want to see not just a different PG&E,
03:58:35.640 --> 03:58:38.860
but also a different energy system.
03:58:38.860 --> 03:58:43.860
And so I want to focus my comments for a moment on the fact
03:58:45.539 --> 03:58:50.480
that moving PG&E out of bankruptcy and having it continue
03:58:50.480 --> 03:58:54.990
to exist as a private company in no way takes us away
03:58:54.990 --> 03:58:57.210
from the state's climate change goals.
03:58:59.370 --> 03:59:02.890
Our regulatory levers and authority
03:59:02.890 --> 03:59:07.890
to meet our climate goals go far beyond just the RPS.
03:59:10.140 --> 03:59:12.060
All load serving entities, including
03:59:12.060 --> 03:59:16.090
investor owned utilities, CPAs, are required to meet
03:59:16.090 --> 03:59:18.430
the state's greenhouse gas reduction targets
03:59:19.674 --> 03:59:22.510
and the SB 100 clean energy goals.
03:59:22.510 --> 03:59:24.700
And there's absolutely nothing in this decision
03:59:24.700 --> 03:59:29.033
that absolved PG&E of that responsibility.
03:59:29.033 --> 03:59:32.440
The decision protects the long standing
03:59:32.440 --> 03:59:34.690
clean energy contracts that this commission
03:59:34.690 --> 03:59:37.790
ordered PG&E to execute many years ago,
03:59:37.790 --> 03:59:39.890
that built a foundation for today's
03:59:39.890 --> 03:59:44.240
significant energy sector reductions in GHG emissions.
03:59:45.082 --> 03:59:47.130
It was important that this proceeding
03:59:47.130 --> 03:59:49.280
protect the integrity of those contracts
03:59:49.280 --> 03:59:52.130
to ensure confidence to the renewable energy market,
03:59:52.130 --> 03:59:54.257
and that has been achieved.
03:59:54.257 --> 03:59:59.257
And there are many other ways in which this commission
03:59:59.320 --> 04:00:02.090
is working on ensuring that we have,
04:00:02.090 --> 04:00:04.590
that we meet those goals and that we have
04:00:04.590 --> 04:00:06.600
the cleanest energy system possible.
04:00:08.460 --> 04:00:12.490
We have everything from our microgrids proceeding,
04:00:12.490 --> 04:00:15.730
to self generation incentive proceeding,
04:00:17.460 --> 04:00:21.620
many many ways, our electric vehicle work that we are doing,
04:00:21.620 --> 04:00:26.204
all of which push all of our IOUs, not just PG&E,
04:00:26.204 --> 04:00:31.204
to make steps towards a new clean energy economy.
04:00:32.210 --> 04:00:35.200
And there is no reason to think that that effort
04:00:35.200 --> 04:00:37.700
will not continue as a result of this decision.
04:00:39.220 --> 04:00:42.860
In fact, recently, PG&E applied
04:00:42.860 --> 04:00:46.740
for more significant investments in clean energy resources,
04:00:46.740 --> 04:00:51.370
including a proposed 423 megawatts of battery storage
04:00:51.370 --> 04:00:53.860
late last year, as IRP's procurement decision.
04:00:54.769 --> 04:00:59.110
And, unusual for a natural gas company in the state,
04:00:59.110 --> 04:01:01.230
PG&E has actually expressed willingness
04:01:01.230 --> 04:01:03.590
to have conversations, to think carefully about,
04:01:03.590 --> 04:01:08.084
what our transition away from a fossil fuel,
04:01:08.084 --> 04:01:10.550
natural gas distribution system
04:01:10.550 --> 04:01:12.000
will look like in the future.
04:01:13.459 --> 04:01:15.020
It is our goal in all of our work here
04:01:15.020 --> 04:01:17.320
at the commission and elsewhere in state government,
04:01:17.320 --> 04:01:19.670
that all load serving entities,
04:01:19.670 --> 04:01:22.530
whether investor-owned or publicly owned,
04:01:22.530 --> 04:01:25.830
do their share to continue to lead this state
04:01:25.830 --> 04:01:28.360
and this nation in creating a clean energy grid.
04:01:28.360 --> 04:01:29.970
And we are not stepping away
04:01:29.970 --> 04:01:32.210
from that commitment whatsoever.
04:01:33.060 --> 04:01:36.450
So again, thank you, President Batjer,
04:01:36.450 --> 04:01:38.100
Commissioner Rechtschaffen.
04:01:38.100 --> 04:01:39.980
I also wanted to take a moment
04:01:39.980 --> 04:01:43.418
to thank former President Picker.
04:01:43.418 --> 04:01:48.418
Some of the, sort of enforcement concepts and ideas
04:01:48.834 --> 04:01:52.470
that went into this decision came from
04:01:52.470 --> 04:01:55.870
the safety culture OII spearheaded.
04:01:55.870 --> 04:01:59.060
And this decision definitely reflects
04:01:59.060 --> 04:02:00.590
some of his careful thinking.
04:02:00.590 --> 04:02:03.560
So I just wanted to thank him for that.
04:02:04.610 --> 04:02:06.040
So, thank you so much,
04:02:06.040 --> 04:02:08.390
and I'll definitely be supporting the decision.
04:02:09.430 --> 04:02:10.910
Thank you, Commissioner Randolph.
04:02:10.910 --> 04:02:15.900
Thank you so much for mentioning President Picker.
04:02:15.900 --> 04:02:18.376
I was remiss in not doing that.
04:02:18.376 --> 04:02:21.140
He had, a huge imparter on much
04:02:21.140 --> 04:02:23.760
of what we were able to accomplish.
04:02:23.760 --> 04:02:26.900
So thank you very much for recognizing him.
04:02:26.900 --> 04:02:28.060
I appreciate that.
04:02:28.060 --> 04:02:29.550
Commissioner Guzman Aceves?
04:02:31.360 --> 04:02:33.330
Thank you, President Batjer,
04:02:33.330 --> 04:02:35.710
and thank you Commissioner Rechtschaffen,
04:02:35.710 --> 04:02:37.080
for all your work on this.
04:02:38.110 --> 04:02:41.960
I find that even though, (voice distorting)
04:02:41.960 --> 04:02:45.649
and walking through my thinking about this decision
04:02:45.649 --> 04:02:48.860
and how I saw this coming about a year and a half ago.
04:02:50.150 --> 04:02:53.280
To me it was very clear that, it was insensitive for PG&E
04:02:53.280 --> 04:02:55.470
to file for bankruptcy in the first place.
04:02:55.470 --> 04:02:59.810
It was their lack to manage all the liability claims
04:02:59.810 --> 04:03:04.770
that they had acquired because of the 2017 and 2018 fires.
04:03:04.770 --> 04:03:07.680
And they chose the route through bankruptcy
04:03:07.680 --> 04:03:10.320
in order to leverage their existence,
04:03:10.320 --> 04:03:12.780
to reduce all of these immense liabilities.
04:03:13.640 --> 04:03:18.220
Their strategy to just have the pull of bankruptcy
04:03:18.220 --> 04:03:22.600
to reduce their liability, quickly drew speculators
04:03:22.600 --> 04:03:26.240
from many companies that we didn't want to see,
04:03:26.240 --> 04:03:29.640
including a possibility of a complete takeover
04:03:29.640 --> 04:03:32.620
by a hedge fund that we were very concerned about.
04:03:33.500 --> 04:03:35.850
There were also many other more positive proposals
04:03:35.850 --> 04:03:37.300
that came forward.
04:03:37.300 --> 04:03:40.350
And then in our deliberations we heard these arguments,
04:03:40.350 --> 04:03:42.530
such as the ones that we heard today,
04:03:42.530 --> 04:03:46.630
to simply pull PG&E's CPCN to allow us to censor it
04:03:46.630 --> 04:03:49.290
or some version of that.
04:03:50.460 --> 04:03:53.740
Always in the back, the limitation was the ability
04:03:53.740 --> 04:03:56.840
to really have the authority to establish
04:03:56.840 --> 04:04:00.121
a replacement agency of any sort.
04:04:00.121 --> 04:04:02.810
I personally hope that there'll be
04:04:02.810 --> 04:04:05.160
a possible public buyer that will come forward.
04:04:06.080 --> 04:04:09.610
At one point there was speculation that another utility
04:04:09.610 --> 04:04:11.690
would potentially buy them out.
04:04:11.690 --> 04:04:15.115
Then there were arguments, there were some proposals,
04:04:15.115 --> 04:04:19.800
that PG&E should be municipalized, statewide,
04:04:19.800 --> 04:04:22.130
and we heard many of those comments today.
04:04:22.130 --> 04:04:23.730
We were even presented,
04:04:23.730 --> 04:04:27.000
by regional municipalization proposals,
04:04:27.000 --> 04:04:29.830
from South San Joaquin Irrigation District,
04:04:29.830 --> 04:04:31.654
Nevada Irrigation District,
04:04:31.654 --> 04:04:34.630
Valley Clean Energy, and the city (voice distorting).
04:04:36.560 --> 04:04:39.000
And then there were also efforts that we heard
04:04:39.000 --> 04:04:43.690
of to bring PG&E into a public benefit mutual corporation,
04:04:43.690 --> 04:04:46.500
proposed by Mayor Liccardo of San Jose,
04:04:46.500 --> 04:04:48.850
and 26 other elected officials.
04:04:50.210 --> 04:04:54.880
There was also the proposal, that the state take over,
04:04:54.880 --> 04:04:57.490
and many of today's public comments,
04:04:57.490 --> 04:04:59.660
the Reclaim Our Power Coalition,
04:04:59.660 --> 04:05:02.120
Democratic Socialists of America,
04:05:02.120 --> 04:05:06.440
Youth vs Apocalypse, as well as many others,
04:05:06.440 --> 04:05:07.950
proposed the state take over.
04:05:09.228 --> 04:05:14.190
Just last week, David Freeman's final opinion piece
04:05:14.190 --> 04:05:17.860
that was published in the Sac Bee after his death,
04:05:17.860 --> 04:05:21.350
even recommends separating the transmission assets
04:05:21.350 --> 04:05:24.600
from PG&E and forming them as a public entity.
04:05:25.560 --> 04:05:28.150
And as you know, there's many other possibilities
04:05:28.150 --> 04:05:30.790
in between those that certainly,
04:05:30.790 --> 04:05:33.030
more specific reforms to the ones
04:05:33.030 --> 04:05:35.580
you highlighted today in the reorganization plan.
04:05:36.500 --> 04:05:38.440
Unfortunately, for various reasons,
04:05:38.440 --> 04:05:43.440
but primarily due to the large climate realities.
04:05:44.020 --> 04:05:47.120
we're dealing with decades of under-investment,
04:05:47.120 --> 04:05:49.810
with these massive liabilities,
04:05:49.810 --> 04:05:53.781
really limited involvement (voice distorting)
04:05:53.781 --> 04:05:54.620
in a timely way for now.
04:05:54.620 --> 04:05:57.870
Many of these customers, and nothing public
04:05:57.870 --> 04:06:01.370
in the bond holder's proposal materialized in bankruptcy.
04:06:02.400 --> 04:06:05.720
And then as you have mentioned, certainly,
04:06:05.720 --> 04:06:09.620
the largest issue for me, was that the victims,
04:06:09.620 --> 04:06:11.894
the survivors of the fires,
04:06:11.894 --> 04:06:14.670
voted to approve this bankruptcy,
04:06:14.670 --> 04:06:17.220
in order to receive some of the payments.
04:06:18.527 --> 04:06:21.360
So in addition to this conundrum
04:06:21.360 --> 04:06:23.310
of not having any other real buyers,
04:06:23.310 --> 04:06:25.880
and having buyers that might not get
04:06:25.880 --> 04:06:28.920
the survivors' vote for this reorganization,
04:06:28.920 --> 04:06:33.040
we also lacked some real statutory authority.
04:06:33.040 --> 04:06:35.620
Challenges, not to mention our regulatory contract,
04:06:35.620 --> 04:06:37.260
but also (voice distorting)
04:06:37.260 --> 04:06:39.260
fundamental failure of the utility.
04:06:40.330 --> 04:06:42.400
The regulatory structure,
04:06:42.400 --> 04:06:44.420
as you mentioned, President Batjer,
04:06:44.420 --> 04:06:46.700
contracts with a monopoly utility,
04:06:46.700 --> 04:06:48.770
is you're not getting through the scenario
04:06:48.770 --> 04:06:52.830
that the private utility model itself was flawed.
04:06:52.830 --> 04:06:54.890
It wasn't like the last bankruptcy,
04:06:54.890 --> 04:06:56.990
that dealt strictly with market manipulation
04:06:56.990 --> 04:06:59.520
and excess debt that needed refinancing.
04:07:00.480 --> 04:07:03.860
This bankruptcy is more fundamental because we contemplated
04:07:03.860 --> 04:07:07.230
the replacement of the monopoly utility as we know it today.
04:07:08.100 --> 04:07:09.660
And our statutory authority
04:07:09.660 --> 04:07:12.680
to replace it full stop is lacking.
04:07:13.630 --> 04:07:16.000
Fortunately today, through the governor's leadership
04:07:16.000 --> 04:07:17.850
and the legislative leadership,
04:07:17.850 --> 04:07:21.000
we have Senator Hill's Bill SB 350
04:07:21.000 --> 04:07:24.750
that will soon provide us as a state with tools
04:07:24.750 --> 04:07:28.510
to replace PG&E with customer selected
04:07:28.510 --> 04:07:31.421
public options should they fail.
04:07:31.421 --> 04:07:35.150
This bill would give rate payers a genuine alternative
04:07:35.150 --> 04:07:37.240
if PG&E failed to provide safe,
04:07:37.240 --> 04:07:39.340
reliable, and affordable energy.
04:07:40.320 --> 04:07:42.420
Then the commission could petition the court
04:07:42.420 --> 04:07:45.950
to find a receiver or the commission could revoke
04:07:45.950 --> 04:07:49.240
PG&E's CPCN, and most importantly,
04:07:49.240 --> 04:07:51.497
if it does either of those,
04:07:51.497 --> 04:07:54.040
we now have a real back up alternative.
04:07:54.040 --> 04:07:57.140
with Golden State Energy, a nonprofit,
04:07:57.140 --> 04:08:01.100
public benefit corporation, which would have as its mission,
04:08:01.100 --> 04:08:03.310
the provision of gas and electric service
04:08:03.310 --> 04:08:05.960
for the benefit of all Californians in its territory.
04:08:07.040 --> 04:08:10.620
The reforms this regulatory (voice distorting)
04:08:10.620 --> 04:08:13.410
do not only achieve the structural organization reforms
04:08:13.410 --> 04:08:17.290
put forward here that you saw when we highlighted,
04:08:17.290 --> 04:08:20.190
such as the executive comp incentives,
04:08:20.190 --> 04:08:23.250
the regionalization of the organizations itself,
04:08:23.250 --> 04:08:26.070
and their Californian-led board makeup.
04:08:26.070 --> 04:08:28.650
But it also changes us as a commission.
04:08:28.650 --> 04:08:30.980
The role of us, our public commission,
04:08:30.980 --> 04:08:34.040
has fundamental changed by these reforms.
04:08:34.040 --> 04:08:36.160
No longer are we expected to wait
04:08:36.160 --> 04:08:38.180
on the leadership of the utility
04:08:38.180 --> 04:08:40.970
and fine them for the failure to act.
04:08:40.970 --> 04:08:44.130
But we ourselves have to prevent continued failures
04:08:44.130 --> 04:08:48.650
and trigger intervention, including replacing PG&E,
04:08:48.650 --> 04:08:51.280
if needed, to prevent another catastrophe.
04:08:52.400 --> 04:08:54.640
Alternately, it is this real threat
04:08:54.640 --> 04:08:57.900
of replacement that SB-350 provides.
04:08:57.900 --> 04:09:01.208
It allows me to have the realistic expectation
04:09:01.208 --> 04:09:05.600
that PG&E will perform and meet its obligations
04:09:05.600 --> 04:09:07.180
under this reorganization.
04:09:08.790 --> 04:09:11.640
Finally, although you do find that this plan
04:09:11.640 --> 04:09:14.200
meets the rate neutrality required
04:09:14.200 --> 04:09:16.670
as a result of this reorganization,
04:09:16.670 --> 04:09:20.520
the greatest challenge will be to maintain affordability
04:09:20.520 --> 04:09:24.550
as we move forward and require greater investment
04:09:24.550 --> 04:09:28.320
for ensuring a safer resilient electrical and gas service,
04:09:28.320 --> 04:09:30.680
especially given the economic reality
04:09:30.680 --> 04:09:33.570
in California, given the COVID crisis.
04:09:34.790 --> 04:09:39.790
The future post-bankruptcy leadership of PG&E will require
04:09:39.940 --> 04:09:43.860
great efficiency, collaboration, and innovation
04:09:43.860 --> 04:09:45.810
to meet the challenge of updating
04:09:45.810 --> 04:09:48.420
the infrastructure of this failing system,
04:09:48.420 --> 04:09:50.600
while maintaining affordable energy bills.
04:09:51.570 --> 04:09:55.500
The challenge is immense, and with this vote,
04:09:55.500 --> 04:09:58.084
we grant the challenging opportunity
04:09:58.084 --> 04:10:00.600
to the restructured PG&E.
04:10:00.600 --> 04:10:05.560
But, if it fails, we will finally have hope to replace it.
04:10:06.510 --> 04:10:07.343
Thank you.
04:10:08.600 --> 04:10:11.870
Thank you very much, Commissioner Guzman Aceves.
04:10:11.870 --> 04:10:12.980
Commissioner Shiroma?
04:10:14.240 --> 04:10:17.030
Yes. Thank you, Batjer.
04:10:17.030 --> 04:10:21.440
I want to thank the public who took their precious time,
04:10:21.440 --> 04:10:26.440
to write us emails, and share comments in person,
04:10:27.028 --> 04:10:29.300
and various commission meetings,
04:10:29.300 --> 04:10:32.091
really over the last 18 months,
04:10:32.091 --> 04:10:35.110
and including last Wednesday and today.
04:10:35.110 --> 04:10:39.490
I appreciate hearing directly from so many of you
04:10:39.490 --> 04:10:41.630
on this very important item.
04:10:41.630 --> 04:10:45.000
I hear the frustration, I hear it too many years,
04:10:45.000 --> 04:10:50.000
of PG&E misplacing priority and neglecting
04:10:50.345 --> 04:10:53.100
the basic and precious foundation
04:10:53.100 --> 04:10:56.380
of the infrastructure of their utility
04:10:56.380 --> 04:10:58.550
that provides such an essential service.
04:10:59.560 --> 04:11:02.860
In taking on the role of commissioner last year,
04:11:02.860 --> 04:11:07.110
I recognize the enormity of the challenges faced by the PUC.
04:11:07.962 --> 04:11:12.090
Devastating wildfires, devastating family,
04:11:12.090 --> 04:11:16.640
PG&E in bankruptcy, and rating agencies hovering.
04:11:16.640 --> 04:11:21.480
My priority then and now are that the victims
04:11:21.480 --> 04:11:25.820
be compensated fairly, that customers have access
04:11:25.820 --> 04:11:29.540
to safe, reliable, affordable, and excellent service,
04:11:30.660 --> 04:11:32.480
that we continue to make progress
04:11:32.480 --> 04:11:34.070
on our climate change goals,
04:11:35.060 --> 04:11:37.020
and that attention is paid,
04:11:37.020 --> 04:11:40.170
especially to those customers with less need.
04:11:41.010 --> 04:11:43.938
I reviewed the proposed decision,
04:11:43.938 --> 04:11:46.230
the CPUC proposed decision,
04:11:46.230 --> 04:11:49.920
and there is a lot of reference to the PUD plan.
04:11:49.920 --> 04:11:54.920
Here we are looking at adoption of the CPUC decision.
04:11:56.244 --> 04:11:59.340
I reviewed that decision through those lenses
04:11:59.340 --> 04:12:01.050
I just outlined.
04:12:01.050 --> 04:12:03.790
And I will be supporting the proposed decision.
04:12:04.720 --> 04:12:08.080
I appreciate that a number of revisions were made
04:12:08.080 --> 04:12:10.980
to the proposed decision, in response to comments,
04:12:12.300 --> 04:12:17.070
including revisions to the key steps, six steps,
04:12:18.340 --> 04:12:22.060
which could lead to revoking PG&E's
04:12:22.060 --> 04:12:24.630
authority to operate, revoking their permit,
04:12:25.660 --> 04:12:29.720
under some very specific circumstances.
04:12:32.860 --> 04:12:37.500
The provisions in the decision, overall, in my view,
04:12:37.500 --> 04:12:41.467
enhance safety and accountability.
04:12:41.467 --> 04:12:45.650
And our oversight does not end here.
04:12:45.650 --> 04:12:47.610
And several commissioners referred
04:12:47.610 --> 04:12:52.290
to our follow on proceedings, and specifically,
04:12:52.290 --> 04:12:55.380
the safety culture proceeding, and there are others.
04:12:56.340 --> 04:13:01.340
The PSPS decision that we just adopted out also adds
04:13:01.910 --> 04:13:06.910
to the pull string of what we are requiring from PG&E.
04:13:10.870 --> 04:13:15.570
I would like to, in conclusion, thankfully say,
04:13:15.570 --> 04:13:18.560
President Batjer, Commissioner Rechtschaffen.
04:13:18.560 --> 04:13:21.950
Judge Allen, the parties and the many staff,
04:13:21.950 --> 04:13:25.880
who have worked on this decision over many, many months,
04:13:25.880 --> 04:13:28.870
and others have spoken to that.
04:13:28.870 --> 04:13:33.520
I would also, as one of our commenters said today,
04:13:33.520 --> 04:13:37.710
about the employees at PG&E, that in the aftermath
04:13:37.710 --> 04:13:40.010
of the Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989,
04:13:40.010 --> 04:13:44.568
that her relative was helped by a PG&E employee
04:13:44.568 --> 04:13:49.568
who, despite the devastation, was still at work.
04:13:49.840 --> 04:13:54.020
And so, as Commissioner Rechtschaffen also alluded to,
04:13:54.020 --> 04:13:56.420
I want to thank the rank and file
04:13:57.310 --> 04:14:01.370
utility and energy workers of PG&E.
04:14:01.370 --> 04:14:03.520
Of course it all starts with employees,
04:14:04.553 --> 04:14:07.060
because they are the ones that are frontline,
04:14:07.060 --> 04:14:12.060
going to work every day to keep the system operating.
04:14:12.060 --> 04:14:15.291
And on a day like today, it's a 100 degrees.
04:14:15.291 --> 04:14:19.060
In Sacramento it's been a heat wave.
04:14:19.060 --> 04:14:22.630
We think about the devastating storms,
04:14:22.630 --> 04:14:25.940
winds, rain, so forth.
04:14:25.940 --> 04:14:29.670
These workers are out there repairing lines
04:14:29.670 --> 04:14:33.780
and helping individual households and customers,
04:14:33.780 --> 04:14:36.500
so I do also want to thank them.
04:14:36.500 --> 04:14:39.840
So I will be supporting the proposed decision.
04:14:39.840 --> 04:14:42.800
It's been a long haul, and we're not done yet.
04:14:43.820 --> 04:14:46.120
This is a milestone, as President Batjer says.
04:14:47.078 --> 04:14:49.370
And we have more to do,
04:14:50.470 --> 04:14:53.900
upon the adoption of this proposed decision.
04:14:53.900 --> 04:14:54.900
Thank you very much.
04:14:56.619 --> 04:14:59.650
Thank you to all my fellow commissioners
04:14:59.650 --> 04:15:03.020
for those very rich and important comments.
04:15:03.020 --> 04:15:06.570
Again, thank you to my Bagley-Keene partner
04:15:06.570 --> 04:15:11.570
and ally on this march that we started in October.
04:15:11.605 --> 04:15:14.490
And you're right, I still feel like a newbie,
04:15:14.490 --> 04:15:18.770
and boy, those days, although it seems quite some time ago,
04:15:18.770 --> 04:15:21.140
we've come a very long way.
04:15:21.140 --> 04:15:26.140
And I thank you all for all of your attention to detail,
04:15:27.590 --> 04:15:31.468
your thoughtfulness, your deep thinking,
04:15:31.468 --> 04:15:35.660
that helped get us to this point today.
04:15:35.660 --> 04:15:40.000
So with that, will the agenda clerk, please call the roll?
04:15:40.000 --> 04:15:42.200
For item 48, Commissioner Shiroma?
04:15:43.300 --> 04:15:44.400
Aye.
04:15:44.400 --> 04:15:46.730
Commissioner Guzman Aceves?
04:15:46.730 --> 04:15:47.660
Aye.
04:15:47.660 --> 04:15:49.820
Commissioner Randolph?
04:15:49.820 --> 04:15:50.850
Aye.
04:15:50.850 --> 04:15:52.710
Commissioner Rechtschaffen?
04:15:52.710 --> 04:15:53.950
Aye.
04:15:53.950 --> 04:15:55.420
And President Batjer?
04:15:56.360 --> 04:15:57.193
Aye.
04:15:57.193 --> 04:15:58.026
Thank you.
04:15:58.026 --> 04:16:01.330
The vote for item 48 Reorganization Plan
04:16:01.330 --> 04:16:05.290
of Pacific Gas and Electric Company is unanimous.
04:16:05.290 --> 04:16:06.490
Thank you all very much.
04:16:08.160 --> 04:16:10.060
We will now turn to the next item
04:16:10.060 --> 04:16:13.610
on our agenda, the management report.
04:16:13.610 --> 04:16:17.480
There is no report for item 40, which is the report
04:16:17.480 --> 04:16:19.110
and discussion on recent consumer
04:16:19.110 --> 04:16:21.580
protection and safety activity.
04:16:21.580 --> 04:16:25.500
And I now will turn to Executive Director Stebbins
04:16:25.500 --> 04:16:28.200
for item 41, which is the manager report
04:16:28.200 --> 04:16:30.870
on administrative activities, Alice?
04:16:32.800 --> 04:16:34.950
Thank you, President Batjer and Commissioners.
04:16:34.950 --> 04:16:37.490
I would like to acknowledge the retirement of one
04:16:37.490 --> 04:16:41.890
of our Consumer Affairs Representatives, Rosario Cervantes.
04:16:42.870 --> 04:16:45.570
Rosario has worked at four state agencies,
04:16:45.570 --> 04:16:48.960
through 40 years of state service,
04:16:48.960 --> 04:16:51.560
starting with the Employment Development Department
04:16:51.560 --> 04:16:53.610
and ending with the CPUC,
04:16:53.610 --> 04:16:56.530
where she has been for the past 33 years,
04:16:57.420 --> 04:16:59.520
The last 14 of those years have been
04:16:59.520 --> 04:17:01.410
with our Consumer Affairs Branch,
04:17:01.410 --> 04:17:03.300
or CAB, as we like to call it.
04:17:04.460 --> 04:17:07.710
Rosario's supervisor, Carol Bullion,
04:17:07.710 --> 04:17:08.980
had the opportunity to work
04:17:08.980 --> 04:17:12.080
side by side with Rosario for many years.
04:17:12.080 --> 04:17:14.500
And he quickly realized that Rosario was always
04:17:14.500 --> 04:17:17.150
committed to consumers and always worked
04:17:17.150 --> 04:17:19.300
for a favorable consumer resolution.
04:17:20.500 --> 04:17:22.250
The CPUC has always been able
04:17:22.250 --> 04:17:25.410
to count on Rosario in times of need.
04:17:25.410 --> 04:17:27.880
In the fast paced environment of CAB,
04:17:27.880 --> 04:17:30.360
Rosario always handled customer complaints
04:17:30.360 --> 04:17:33.020
professionally and completely.
04:17:33.020 --> 04:17:35.260
In fact, Carol has had to tell her
04:17:35.260 --> 04:17:38.610
to go home after hours on more than one occasion because
04:17:38.610 --> 04:17:42.570
she was working so many hours handling consumer complaints.
04:17:43.890 --> 04:17:46.260
She will be handling cases up to her last day
04:17:46.260 --> 04:17:47.660
at the end of this month.
04:17:48.820 --> 04:17:53.630
So Rosario, I know you're listening, from all of us at CPUC,
04:17:53.630 --> 04:17:56.780
thank you so much for your 40 years of service
04:17:56.780 --> 04:17:58.130
to the state of California.
04:17:59.350 --> 04:18:00.400
That's all, President Batjer.
04:18:00.400 --> 04:18:01.233
Yay.
04:18:02.070 --> 04:18:03.970
Yay.
04:18:03.970 --> 04:18:05.790
Rosario, that's incredible.
04:18:06.670 --> 04:18:09.960
Thank so much for your public service.
04:18:09.960 --> 04:18:14.730
I always love to hear wonderful public service stories
04:18:14.730 --> 04:18:17.650
with my own devotion to what I think
04:18:17.650 --> 04:18:20.040
is the most noblest thing that we can all do,
04:18:20.040 --> 04:18:24.850
and that is serve our fellow human beings.
04:18:24.850 --> 04:18:28.230
So Rosario, thank you, from the bottom of my heart
04:18:28.230 --> 04:18:30.480
and those of my fellow commissioners.
04:18:32.670 --> 04:18:33.570
Thank you, Alice.
04:18:33.570 --> 04:18:37.970
I do hope Rosario is listening. (chuckling)
04:18:37.970 --> 04:18:41.090
Sorry we can't wave to Rosario.
04:18:41.090 --> 04:18:44.420
Alright, thank you very much, that's really heartwarming.
04:18:44.420 --> 04:18:47.330
We're now moving to commissioner reports.
04:18:47.330 --> 04:18:49.890
Is there any commissioner who would like to report
04:18:49.890 --> 04:18:52.040
or start first if you do have a report?
04:18:54.260 --> 04:18:56.810
Ah, Commissioner Rechtschaffen?
04:18:58.760 --> 04:19:03.490
I just have two quick personnel items.
04:19:03.490 --> 04:19:07.600
I wanted to first thank Jessica Jandura
04:19:07.600 --> 04:19:11.570
who was a law clerk for my office this past semester.
04:19:11.570 --> 04:19:13.580
She's graduating from law school,
04:19:13.580 --> 04:19:16.070
and she's been snatched by the ALJ Division,
04:19:16.070 --> 04:19:18.960
where she'd worked previously over the summer,
04:19:18.960 --> 04:19:20.960
as she prepares for the bar.
04:19:20.960 --> 04:19:23.200
She was a fantastic intern, we wish her well,
04:19:23.200 --> 04:19:24.940
we'll miss her, but I'm very glad
04:19:24.940 --> 04:19:27.240
she's staying at the commission.
04:19:28.120 --> 04:19:30.290
Secondly, I want to welcome Alyssa Cheung,
04:19:30.290 --> 04:19:34.240
who is joining my office this summer as an intern.
04:19:34.240 --> 04:19:37.780
Alyssa is a second year student at the Goldman School,
04:19:37.780 --> 04:19:41.470
focusing on environmental justice and climate policy.
04:19:41.470 --> 04:19:44.310
She previously worked at the Energy Foundation.
04:19:44.310 --> 04:19:46.500
She'll be here for the next two and a half months.
04:19:46.500 --> 04:19:49.120
Now, obviously you can't stop by and say hello,
04:19:49.120 --> 04:19:51.230
but maybe send her a virtual hello
04:19:51.230 --> 04:19:54.020
and invite her to any interesting things going on
04:19:54.020 --> 04:19:57.229
that a second year MPH MPP student
04:19:57.229 --> 04:19:59.760
at the Goldman School would be interested in.
04:19:59.760 --> 04:20:01.360
Thank you.
04:20:01.360 --> 04:20:02.960
That's terrific.
04:20:02.960 --> 04:20:04.850
We all look forward to meeting her.
04:20:06.070 --> 04:20:08.820
Any other commissioners who would like to report today?
04:20:10.230 --> 04:20:11.440
Okay, seeing none,
04:20:12.840 --> 04:20:16.320
That finishes out the commissioners reports.
04:20:16.320 --> 04:20:20.837
And I must say, I want to wish everyone health.
04:20:22.540 --> 04:20:24.680
Please continue to be safe.
04:20:24.680 --> 04:20:27.130
Please continue to be smart.
04:20:27.130 --> 04:20:29.990
This public meeting is now adjourned.
04:20:29.990 --> 04:20:30.823
Thank you all.